UC-NRLF 


YALE    HISTORICAL   MANUSCRIPTS 


Some  Cursory  Remarks 

Made  by  James  Birket 

in  his  Voyage  to  North  America 

1750-1751 


YALE    UNIVERSITY    PRESS 


GIFT    OF 
EVGENE 


YALE 

HISTORICAL   PUBLICATIONS 

MANUSCRIPTS   AND   EDITED   TEXTS 

IV 

PUBLISHED  UNDER,  THE  DIRECTION  OF  THE 
DEPARTMENT  OF  HISTORY 

FROM  THE  INCOME  OF 

THE  FREDERICK  JOHN  KINGSBURY 

MEMORIAL  FUND 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

I/ 

IN  HIS  VOYAGE  TO  NORTH  AMERICA 
1750-1751 


NEW  HAVEN:   YALE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

LONDON:   HUMPHREY  MILFORD 

OXFORD  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

MDCCCCXVI 


COPYRIGHT,  1916 
BY  YALE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 


Published  October,  1916 
Three  hundred  copies  printed  from  type 


PREFACE 

The  diary  here  printed  under  its  original  title, 
"Some  Cursory  Remarks  made  by  James  Birket," 
came  undoubtedly  from  the  collection  of  Dr.  William 
Thornton,  now  on  deposit  in  the  Library  of  Con 
gress.  It  was  preserved  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Bayard 
Smith,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Harrison  Smith,  founder 
and  first  editor  of  the  National  Intelligencer,  and 
descended  to  Mrs.  Smith's  grandson,  J.  Henley 
Smith,  by  whom  it  was  presented  to  the  University 
for  publication. 

Of  Birket  himself  nothing  is  known,  beyond  what 
is  stated  in  his  itinerary.  He  was  probably  one  of 
Thornton's  West  India  friends,  a  merchant  and 
sea-captain  living  in  Antigua,  where  the  name  is 
found  among  the  records  sufficiently  often  to  estab 
lish  the  presence  of  a  Birket  family  there.  Among 
the  Thornton  papers  is  a  little  brochure,  The 
Ladies'  Advocate,  a  Poem,  printed  in  Antigua  in 
1748,  which  bears  the  name  of  James  Birket,  the 
owner.  How  the  diary  came  into  Thornton's  hands 
we  do  not  know.  Presumably  it  was  given  to 
him  by  Birket,  either  in  Antigua  or  in  Tortola  of  the 
Virgin  Isles,  where  Thornton  lived,  and  must  have 
contained  information  which  the  latter  would  value, 
preparatory  to  visiting  the  United  States,  as  he  did 
some  years  later,  when  he  took  up  his  residence 
there. 

[  v  ] 

349308 


PREFACE 

It  is  evident  from  the  diary  that  Birket  was  in 
more  or  less  frequent  communication  with  many  of 
the  merchants  of  the  Northern  Colonies,  and  prob 
ably  acted  as  correspondent  and  factor  for  them  in 
their  commercial  dealings  with  Antigua.  His  obser 
vations  show  the  mercantile  bent  of  his  mind  and 
contain  information  that  is  not  easy  to  obtain 
elsewhere. 

C.  M.  A. 


SOME   CURSORY   REMARKS   MADE   BY 
JAMES   BIRKET 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 
IN  HIS  VOYAGE  TO  NORTH  AMERICA 

1750 


July  26'h  at  two  O'Clock  P.M.  sailed  from  St.  1750 
John's  Harbour  in  the  Island  of  Antigua,  in  the 
Ship  Knowles  George  Sibley  Commander  for  Ports 
mouth  on  Piscataway  river  in  New  Hampshire, 
Henry  Rust  a  young  man  of  that  Place  and  myself 
Passengers,  this  and  the  Two  following  days  sea 
sick  and  had  as  smart  a  breeze  a  Cross  the  trade  as 
I  ever  met  with 

This  day  crossed  the  Tropick  nothing  remark-         1750 

ui        17       u         1  July  29th 

able;  Fresh  gale, 

This  evening  it  begun  to  blow  &  we  had  a  violent     Augt  4th 
gale  of  wind  at  S.W.  Lat.  32°  34'  about  10  o'Clock 
at  night   Sprung  our  Missin  mast  across  by  the  deck 

This  morning  the  Strength  of  the  gale  being  some-  5th 
what  abated  about  7  oClock  (the  sea  runing  high) 
I  observed  a  flock  of  Gray  Plover  which  came  close 
by  the  Ship  and  Seamd  to  fly  directly  to  the  S°  Et  we 
being  then  in  the  Lat°  of  Bermudas  and  abt  2°  to  the 
westward  of  it,  which  confirm^  me  of  the  Truth  of 

c  i  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

the   Anor   here,    that   these   birds    come    from    N. 
America  to  the  West  india  Islands  in  July  &  Aug* 
yearly,  where  they  stay  a  Small  time  And  then  leave 
them  to  Seek  fresh  commons  elsewhere 
7th  This  day  the  weather  being  a  little  cool,  I  drank 

some  beer  to  my  dinne  not  having  drank  any  before 
Since  17  Ape  1747 

1750  This  3  or  4  days  past  fine  weather  and  this  day 

caugt  a  Sherk  10%  foot  long  and  by  Computation 
see  Above  twenty  Grampuses  standing  to  the  S°W 

12th  We  caught  some  Mackrall  and  see  a  sword  fish 

along  side  of  the  Ship  about  eight  foot  Long  Exclu 
sive  of  the  sword  of  Snout  that  seemd  to  be  above 
3  foot  long  which  was  the  only  one  I  ever  saw 

13th  We  took  near  y2  bble  of  Mackrall  wth  in  Georges 

bank  from  9  @  16%  Inch  Long 

14th  At  3  P.M.  made  the  land  called  Egamenticus 

which  are  blue  hills  that  lye  30'  or  40'  fro :  the  Sea, 
we  see  also  to  the  Eastward  near  as  far  as  Casco  bay 

15th  This  morning  at  one  A.M.  made  the  Isles  of 

Shoals  which  are  sundry  Small  Islands  about  2 
leagues  from  the  mouth  of  Piscataway  river  upon 
the  largest  of  which  are  50  or  60  familys  which 
make  a  Small  town  in  which  is  a  Presbyterian  Meet 
ing  house  &  A  minister  that  resides  Amongst  'em 

Augt  15th     their  chiefe  subsistance  is  by  fishing  as  the  Islands 
1750 

is  an  Entire  bed  of  rocks  which  produces  no  herbage 
or  Any  kind  of  Corn,  grain,  or  Timber  we  were 
becalmd  near  those  Islands  &  Standing  of  and  on 
all  this  day  which  furnished  us  with  a  fine  Prospect 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

not  only  of  these  Islands  but  the  main  land  also, 
which  we  were  very  near  this  afternoon  and  Ex 
pected  to  have  been  put  on  Shore  by  the  Eddy  tide 
in  Shore  but  Escaped  and  put  of  to  Sea  again 

Calm  all  the  forenoon  Several  people  came  in  a          16 
boat  to  us  where  we  lay,  from  the  Isles  of  Shoals 
and  about  12  o'Clock  came  from  Portsm0  in  a  boat 
Cap*  Mills,  Paul  Marsh  &  2  Others,  Soon  after  they 
came  on  board  we  observed  the  Breese  come  towards 
us,  At  one  P.M  had  a  fine  breese  and  got  round      Augt  16 
fort  Point  at  New  Castle  at  3  oClock  &  at  4  got  up 
to  the  wharfe  at  the  town  of  Portsmouth  where 
came  on  board  us 
Mark  Hunting  Wentworth  Esq' 
Jotham  Odiovne  Esq 
Cole0  Messerve 
Capt  Nathl  Pearce 
Mr.  High  Sherriff,  Packer 

Cap*  Ryon,  Capt  Burt  &  Sundry  others  at  7  oClock 
after  regailing  our  guests  we  came  ashore  and  Spent 
the  Evening  at  the  Widdaw  Slatons  with  Paul 
Marsh  Captain  Pearce  &  Several  others —  where 
I  lodged  and  intend  to  do  So  during  my  Stay  in  this 
place  being  the  best  tavern  for  Strangers  in  town 

I  Dined  with  Mark  Hg  Wentworth  17th 

DO  with  Wm  Keating  at  Capt  Wm  Pearsons  18. 

DO  with  Capt  Nat.  Pearce  at  Geo  Jeffrys  19 

DO  With  Jotham  Odiovne  20. 

DO  with  John  Sherburne  21. 

DO  with  George  Libby  22 

DO  with  Henry  Sherburne  Esqr  23 

[  3   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Augt24  Went  with  Henry  Sherburne  in  his  Chair  to 
Exeter  15  miles  fine  road  &  dined  with  Cole<>  Gil- 
man;  this  town  is  Scituate  upon  a  branch  of  Piscata- 
way  river,  where  they  have  a  large  Wooden  bridge 
over  the  Same  where  there  is  severall  saw  mills 
Grist  mills  &Ca  and  here  the  build  Ships  of  good 
Burthen,  this-  Branch  of  the  river  being  Navigable 
up  to  the  town  which  is  well  built  and  Pleasantly 
Scituated  there  is  two  Presbyterian  meeting  houses 
here,  one  of  the  Newlight  And  one  of  the  old,  but 
'tis  hard  to  Say  which  Sees  best  there  Seems  to  be 
100  houses  or  more  in  the  town,  some  of  them  built 
after  the  modern  taste  which  make  avery  good 
Apearance;  The  People  here  as  well  as  in  Other 
branches  of  Piscataway  river  complain  that  there 
Lumber  is  far  to  fetch  out  of  the  Country  and  Stand, 
them  very  dear,  which  realy  seems  to  be  the  case 

1750  for  the  road  that  we  went  was  extreamly  well 
Inhabited  all  the  way  and  the  ground  generally 
Cleared  and  as  far  as  we  could  see  beyond  the  town, 
but  indeed  one  cannot  see  far  here  as  the  country  is 
so  much  upon  alevel  that  it's  few  Places  that  Afford 
any  distant  prospect,  Abundance  of  Lumber  is 
brought  down  to  this  town  by  Land  carriage  and 
afterwards  is  rafted  down  the  river  to  Portsm0  in 
the  Evening  we  return^  with  Geo  Libby  and  Henry 
Rust  in  Compa 

25th  Dined  with  Jotham  Odiovne 

26  Dined  wth  My  landlady  Slaton 

27  DO  with  D°  -  And  this  day  captain  Sams  from 
Bidiford   agreed  wth   M    H   Wentworth   &   Cole0 

[   4] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Miserve  to  build  him  a  double  deck  vessel  About 
iooton  for  which  he  is  to  pay  them  in  goods  at  1 100 
pO  and  to  Allow  them  £30  pton  The  Exctra:  is 
now  reckond  at  1000  pO  there  first  agreem*  was  to  Augt  27 
take  the  goods  at  1200  pO  but  the  Gentlemen 
Aledged  there  had  been  an  Advance  put  upon  the 
goods  and  therefore  Insisted  on  the  above  Abatem* 
The  goods  were  chiefly  courseCloths  and  aKind  of 
duffilds  like  ordinary  bearskins,  Camblets,  Shallons, 
Plushes,  and  Some  All  spuns,  Ironpots,-  Pewter, 
Cordage,  Course  rugs  &  Blankets,  Allsort  of  ship- 
nails,  Shoes  &  Boots  course  Hats,  Ready  made 
Cloaths,  and  other  kind  of  coursegoods 

Another  Captain  from  the  same  Place  agreed  for 
aSmaller  vessel  at  2$£:  pton  and  topay  in  goods  25 
pO  on  the  Sterlg  Invoice,  but  this  vessel,  being  % 
finishd  as  aSale  vessel,  was  deem'd  avery  indifferent 
one  both  as  to  wood  and  workmanship  as  that  sort 
generally  are 

dined  with  my  Landlady  Slaton  28th 

D°  at  Capt  Pearsons  with  Wm  Keeting  29th 

D°  with  my  landlady  Slaton 

Paul  Marsh  Edmd  Quncey  Junr  and  Ctp*  New-        31th 
marsh    and    myself    got    aboat   And    went    up    the 
river  as  far  as  Quochecho,  aBranch  of  Piscataway      Augt  31 
river  about  12  Mile  above  Portsm0  where  we  went 
on  board  a  Sloop  loaded  with  Lumber  that  was 
brought  down  to  to  her  from  Quochecho  Town  The 
Country  along  this  river  on  both  Sides  is  very  full  of 
Inhabitants  There  we  See  aSix  vaind  wind  mill  and 
those   well    Supply'd   with   the    Necessarys    of   life 

[  5   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

About  Dover  we  observed  the  land  much  freer  from 
Stones  and  more  of  aSandy  Soil,  never  the  less  we 
see  many  large  Orchards  Loaden  with  fruite  and 
Abundance  of  Maze  in  their  fields;  got  home  in  good 
time  and  dined  wth  Landlady  Slaton 

I  shall  now  attempt  aShort  discription  of  New 
Hampshire  and  the  town  of  Portsmouth  &Ca  Just 
as  it  Occur'd  to  me  during  my  Short  stay  there,  as  I 
intend  to  Set  out  towards  Boston  Tomorrow 
Morning, 

Augt  31  The  river  of  Piscataway-  being  the  only  one  of 
any  note  within  this  Province,  and  I  think  exceeds  any 
I  have  yet  seen,  for  the  extent  of  it,  And  lyes  about 
WNW:  &  ESE  'tis  said  to  be  from  7  @  16  fathom 
at  low  water  with  aBold  Shore  and  has  many  creeks 
&  Coves  where  there  is  good  Anchorage  out  of  the 
tides  way  for  the  largest  ships,  it  is  of  aModerate 
breadth  from  %  to  %  a  mile,  and  at  some  points 
that  Jetts  out  into  the  Stream  Still  Narrower,  Again 
in  other  places  above  the  Town  it  extend,  itself  to 
a  great  Breadth;  From  the  Fort  point  at  New 
castle  where  it  disembogues  itself  into  the  sea  to 
the  Town  of  Portsm0  Commonly  caled  by  the  Coun 
try  People  (Strawberry  bank)  is  three  miles,  and 
the  extent  of  its  Navigation  is  in  Some  branches  12 
in  others  18  or  20  Miles  for  Small  vessels,  as  to 
Exeter,  Dover,  Berwick  and  Quochecho  And  other 
places  where  they  have  Saw  Mills,  Grist  mills,  &Ca 
but  for  their  larger  vessels  they  bring  their  Lumber 
down  in  Rafts  to  the  bank  where  the  said  vessels  lye 
to  take  it  in 

[  6  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Formerly  this  river  was  well  stored  with  Salmon 
which  they  took  in  plenty  but  of  Late  they  have  quite 
forsaken  this  river,  Occasion'd  as  its'  believed  from 
the  Number  of  Sawmills  on  the  different  branches 
of  P.  river,  the  weirs  of  which  runing  crop  the  same 
And  the  Sawdust  from  the  pine,  which  its  believed 
is  very  ungratefull  to  the  fish  when  Mixed  with  the 
Water  and  has  Occasion^  them  to  Seek  for  fresh 
quarters,  The  river  below  the  town  and  for  some 
miles  above  the  Same  is  well  Stored  wth  Codfish, 
Bass  and  several  other  Sorts  of  Choice  fish,  Lob 
sters  they  bake  in  abundance  near  their  wharfs 

This  river  makes  a  very  grand  &  Genteel  apear- 
ance  at  the  Enterance  for  for  On  the  Larboard  hand 
going  from  the  Sea  you  have  the  Antient  town  of 
Newcastle  with  a  fort  upon  the  point,  And  in  the 
town  a  large  Meeting  house  with  avery  high 
Wooden  Spire  Steeple  which  you  See  many  miles 
at  Sea,  As  you  Also  do  another  tall  Spire  of  the 
Same  Sort  on  the  Starboard  hand  going  in  Called 
Kittery,  where  is  the  Seat  of  that  great  Command6 
Sr  William  Peperill  Generall  of  the  Army  that 
Re-duced  Cape  Briton  And  the  City  of  Louisburgh 
after  a  Long  and  Close  Siege;  there  is  also  Several 
other  handsome,  neat  houses  Near  Sr  Williams,  as 
his  Sons  and  also  his  soninlaw  Sparrowhawks,  both 
which  make  a  good  apearance  from  the  river 

N.B.  this  river  divides  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire  from  the  province  of  Main  to  the  East 
ward  which  last  is  in  the  Massachusets  bay  &  all  the 
other  countys  to  the  Eastwd 

[  7  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

The  Town  of  Portsmouth  is  Scituated  upon  Pis- 
cataway  river  about  3  miles  from  the  sea  upon 
aModerate  rising  ground,  not  only  from  the  river, 
but  also  from  the  Adjacent  country  to  the  Parade  or 
Center  thereof;  where4  Principal  streets  meet  in 
the  nature  of  a  +  there  are  pretty  Streight  and 
regular  through  which  you  have  a  prospect  of  the 
country  on  every  side ;  the  other  Streets  are  Irregu 
lar  &Crocked  with  many  vacant  lots  not  yet  built 
upon,  and  most  of  em  now  made  use  of  in  gardens 
&Ca  as  the  town  Stands  partly  upon  a  point  that 
Jetts  out  into  the  river  it  makes  very  good  Con- 
veniencys  for  Building  wharfs  and  warehouses  on 
each  side  out  of  the  Strean  where  Ships  of  any 
Burthen  may  lay  &  discharge  their  cargos  into  the 
warehouses  wth  out  Expence  or  trouble 

The  houses  that  are  of  Modern  Architecture  are 
large  &  Exeeding  neat  this  Sort  is  generally  3 
Story  high  &  well  Sashed  and  Glazed  with  the  best 
glass  the  rooms  are  well  plasterd  and  many  Wains 
coted  or  hung  with  painted  paper  from  England  the 
outside  Clapboarded  very  neatly  and  are  very  warm 
and  Comodious  houses  one  thing  I  observed  there 
that  they  lay  all  there  floors  double,  not  Crossing 
each  Other  but  that  the  seam  or  Joint  of  the  uper 
course  Shall  fall  upon  the  middle  of  the  lower  plank 
which  prevents  the  air  from  coming  thro'  the  floor 
in  winter  or  the  water  falling  down  in  Summer  when 
they  wash  their  houses 

As  to  their  Publick  Buildings  the  have  aChurch  of 
the  Establishd  religion  for  church  of  England 

[  8  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

(which  is  the  only  one  in  this  Governm*)  they  have 
also  two  Meeting  houses  for  the  Presbyterian  or 
Independent  perswasion  All  three  built  of  wood 
with  tall  spires  to  each  which  you  See  a  long  way  off 
at  sea,  indeed  all  the  houses  in  town  Save  two  are 
built  of  wood  Their  Court  house  has  been  formerly 
adwelling  house  and  is  now  aScandalous  old  build 
ing  ready  to  tumble  down;  they  have  no  other 

buildings  worthy  of  Notice  The  better  sort 

of  People  here  live  very  well  and  Genteel,  They 
have  no  fixt  market  but  the  Country  people  come 
to  town  as  it  suits  them  with  such  of  the  Commoditys 
as  they  have  for  Sale  by  which  the  town  is  pretty 
well  Supply'd  with  Beefe,  Mutton,  veal,  and  other 
Butchers  Meat;  they  have  plenty  of  large  Hoggs 
and  very  fat  bacon,  they  have  also  abundance  of 
good  fish  of  diferent  Kinds,  And  abundance  of 
Garden  Culture  as  Beans,  Peas,  Carrots,  Parsnips, 
Turnips,  Radishes,  Onions,  Cabages  Colliflowers, 
Asparagus,  English  or  whats  commonly  called  Irish 
Potatoes  also  the  Sweet  Potatoe,  Obtains  almost 
alover  North  America,  More  so  to  southward,  They 
have  also  Apples  Pears,  Plumbs,  Cherries,  & 
Peaches  in  a  Abundance  They  have  also  Apricots  & 
Nectrines  from  England,  but  do  not  Observe  they 
had  given  any  of  them  the  Advantage  of  awall, 
there's  likewise  Gooseberrys  Currant  D°  Rasberries, 
Strawberries,  Huckleberries  Water  &  Muskmellions, 
Squashes  and  Sundry  Other  kinds  of  fruits  roots  &c 
&c  There  common  drink  is  Cyder  which  they  have  in 
great  Plenty,  and  New  England  rum  And  also  new 

[  9  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

rum  from  the  Westindies,  But  People  of  fortune 
(especially  the  Marsh's)  have  very  good  rum  and 
Madeira  wine  in  their  homes,  Indeed  the  wine  most 
commonly  Drunk  here  is  from  the  Canaries  &West- 
ern  Islands —  called  Oidonia,  tis  of  a  pale  collr 
tasts  harsh  and  is  inclined  to  look  thick 

There  taverns  are  very  Indifferent  &  little  fre 
quented  by  any  but  Strangers 

This  town  enjoys  afine  Air  by  Standing  upon  aris 
ing  ground  and  command  a  fine  prospect  from  the 
Center  every  way  and  is  Certainly  the  most  agree 
ably  Scituated  for  Pleasure  or  Bussiness  of  most 
places  I  have  Seen 

This  Government  or  Province  of  New  Hamp 
shire  is  bounded  to  the  Northeast  by  Piscataway 
river  wch  Separates  it  from  the  Province  of  main, 
&Countys  of  york  &  Cornwall,  And  to  The  S.W.  by 
aline  run  to  the  N  E  of  Merrimac  river  about  2 
miles  which  devides  it  from  the  Massachusetts  bay 
'Tis  about  18  miles  wide  but  the  length  from  NW. 
to  S.  E.  I  could  not  learn;  The  ground  in  this  Coun 
try  is  mostly  alight  Soil,  Inclined  to  be  Sandy, 
&some  places  more  of  a  Gritty  and  Gravely 
nature  and  not  capable  of  bearing  Much  dry 
weather,  yet  being  not  often  broke  up  is  very  Pro 
ductive  in  Seasonable  years,  they  raise  Oats  &Barley 
but  their  Chiefe  grain  is  Maize  or  Indian  Corn  of 
which  they  plant  a  good  deal  but  not  Enough  for 
their  own  Consumption  being  Obliged  to  Import 
large  Quty*  from  Maryland  &Virginia,  Also  from 
New  York  &Philadelphia  from  the  2  last  places 

[  10  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

they  have  all  their  flour  as  their  own  Country  will 
not  produce  any  wheat,  They  have  Abundance  of 
Large  Orchards  And  Make  great  Qtys  of  Cyder  wch 
is  their  Ordinary  drink,  they  also  export  a  good  deal 
to  Hallifax,  Terre  Nova  N&S.  Carolina  &C,  This 
province  also  produces  Good  Hops  &Exceeding 
good  flax  of  which  the  Irish  Settled  at  London  derry 
Make  very  good  Cloth  &  fine  Ounce  thread,  Some 
of  the  Cloth  I  see  which  was  choise  good  Shirting 
Linnen  and  I  am  informed  this  little  town  increases 
very  much,  This  Province  abounds  with  rocks  and 
large  Stones  but  they  are  of  such  a  Stubborn  nature 
and  break  so  Crossly  that  they  are  not  fit  for  any 
thing  except  field  fences  &  not  good  even  for  that; 
The  land  seems  Capable  of  grain  more  than  Suffi 
cient  for  their  Own  Consumpt  but  the  people  up  the 
the  rivers  Seem  more  eager  after  Manufacturing  the 
Lumber,  And  those  below  y*  are  near  the  Sea,  Are 
either  Seamen  Fishermen  &Ca  So  that  between  the 
two  the  land  Seems  to  be  a  good  deal  Neglected, 
Tho'it  Seems  generally  capable  of  Cultivation  as 
it's  near  upon  a  levell  wth  Small  risings  and  fallings, 
Sufficient  to  cary  of  the  water  after  rain  but  you  have 
not  any  hills  of  any  Considerable  height  for  many 
miles  the  nearest  you  See  is  reckoned  40  or  50  miles 
from  you  in  the  inland  part  of  the  Country,  yet  the 
ground  in  general  is  dry  and  very  good  roads  for 
road  horses  or  Carriages 

The  Exports  of  this  province  are  Chiefly  Lum 
ber,  as  Boards,  Plank,  Joists,  Staves,  Shingles  &C 
which  come  mostly  down  the  River  from  the  differ- 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

ent  Branch8  also  fish  which  the  Send  as  well  as  the 
Lumber  to  the  West  Indies  and  the  latter  also  to 
the  Straights  &Ca  they  have  also  Sent  a  good  deal 
of  Lumber  to  the  City  of  Hallifax  and  Nova  Scotia 
&  Terre  Nova  &Ca  Altho  they  complain  that  it  is 
very  dear  to  them  the  Cartage  out  of  the  woods  to 
the  mills  being  now  a  long  way  and  the  wood  dear  to 
what  it  used  to  be  Their  present  Price  Curr*  Seems 
to  be  for  Boards  Plank  &  Joists  16  @  £18  pms, 
Ship  building  y2  goods  y2  Cash  25.  @  3o£  pton 
Rum  28(0)33  pGall  Masts  16  Inch  75  feet  Long 
£20,  Clapboards  i6£  pms  Shingles  £  pms  Extra  a 
London  900  pO  or  10  for  i 

As  to  their  woods,  they  are  of  different  Kinds  their 
Oak  is  esteem'd  —  the  best  timber  in  the  Northern 
Collonies  for  Ship  building  of  which  they  carry  on 
a  very  great  stroke  which  they  send  to  the  West- 
indies  and  Europe  and  there  dispose  of  them,  they 
have  also —  Several  sorts  of  pine  some  much 
more  Serviceable  then  Others  which  they  Saw  into 
boards  plan  &  Joists  Some  that  are  cut  Down  and 
Shipt  to  England  for  Masts  for  the  royal  Navy, 
there  is  also  great  qtys  of  masts  cut  and  Lumber 
made  to  the  E.wd  as  far  as  Casco  bay  where  large — 
Ships  loads  Masts  for  the  Kings  yds  And  abund 
ance  of  Lumber  is  here  Shipt  in  Small  Sloops  for 
Boston  they  have  also  Ash,  Beeach,  Wallnut  of 
sundry  Sorts  very  large  Chesnuts  And  Sundry  other 
Kinds  of  wood 

I  do  not  find  there  is  any  Iron  works  in  this  Pro 
vince  for  in  the  last  year  they  paid  a  Most  Intolera- 

[    12    ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

ble  price  for  Iron  which  they  Chiefly  have  from 
Maryland  Virginia  &  Pensilvania,  Not  only  for 
Shipwork  but  all  other  uses 

Their  Cattle  are  small  but  Seemingly  very  strong 
having  Short  thick  bodies  and  Short  Limbs,  Their 
Horses  are  also  Small  but  very  Hardy  &  Strong 
their  Sheep  are  Small  but  the  meat  very  Sweet  fat  & 
well  tasted  they  have  plenty  of  Poultry  as  Geese 
Turkeys,  dunghill  fowles  Ducks  &Ca  tame;  And 
plenty  of  Wild  Turkeys  in  the  woods  also  Wild 
geese  &  Ducks  Partridge  much  Smaller  than  ours 
Also  abundance  of  small  birds  as  Blackbirds  who 
have  a  note  much  like  frogs  in  a  Summer  Evening 
they  Keep  in  prodigeous  flocks;  the  have  also,  a 
Bird  like  our  field  fare  with  a  red  Brest  which  the 
call  a  Robin  that  sings  delightfully,  I  also  See  the 
Humming  bird  here  in  the  Month  of  August 

This  day  about  n  o'Clock  left  Portsm0  with  man  1751 
Yorkshire  on  two  hired  horses  in  Comp*  with  Cap*  SePteme  lst 
Wm  Pearson  &  William  Keeting  who  Set  us  on  our 
way  about  6  miles,  We  got  to  Hampton  to  dinner 
being  9  miles,  In  the  afternoon  we  Viewd  this  town 
as  we  rode  -along  being  pleasantly  Scituated  in  a  fine 
open  country,  on  the  west  side  of  which  is  a  large 
tract  of  middow  Ground  where  we  see  as  we  passed 
them  abundance  of  Stacks  of  salt  hay  cut  in  these 
Middows,  They  let  the  Stacks  remain  until  the  frost 
come  And  enable  them  to  fetch  it  home  at  Other 
times  the  ground  is  too  soft  &  bogy  to  go  upon  with 
any  Kind  of  Carriage  being  frequently  overflowd 
by  the  tides  especially  near  the  river  From  Hamp- 

[  13  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

ton  to  Newburry  is  1 1  Miles  where  I  arrivd  about 
Sun  Set  And  then  found  myself  near  two  miles  in 
Boston  Government  we  Crossed  the  river  in  a 
1751  Sailing  ferry  boat  and  landed  in  Newburry,  At  my 
landing  met  with  Cap*  Woodbridge  who  went  with 
me  to  a  tavern  or  Inn  Kept  by  one  Ebenezr  Chout 
where  we  had  a  pint  of  wine  &C  This  river  that 
washes  the  borders  of  Newburry  is  called  Merri- 
mack  &  is  about  a  Mile  in  Breadth  at  the  town  and 
of  a  prodigeous  extent  back  into  the  Country  as 
may  be  Seen  by  the  maps,  Tis  of  a  good  depth  at 
the  town  for  Shiping  but  they  are  obliged  if  large, 
to  waite  for  Spring  tides  to  Come  in  as  there  is  a 
Bar  at  the  mouth  of  it  that  has  not  above  10  feet  at 
Low  water  but  is  above  16  feet  at  Spring  tides.  It 
is  not  Navigable  much  above  the  town  being  full 
of  rocks  &  Shoals  Notwithstanding  the  bring  down 
great  Qtys  of  timber  for  Ship  building  which  the 
turn  into  ye  river  above  the  falls,  And  the  Stream 
brings  it  down  as  it  does  also  Staves  &  Shingles 
made  Up  in  Bundles  which  are  also  turn'd  into  the 
river  and  so  pickt  out  again  by  people  that  attend  on 
purpose  about  the  town  and  deliverd  to  the  Owners 
thereof 

This  river  is  the  most  remarkable  for  Salmon  of 
any  in  those  parts  and  now  more  so  as  they  have 
forsaken  Piscataqua  as  before  Observed 

Newbury  is  a  pretty  good  town  Scituated  on  the 
W*  Side  of  the  above  sd  river  in  the  Collony  of  the 
Massachusetts  bay,  And  Extends  itself  near  a  mile 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  with  two  long  Streets  which 

[   14  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

run  Paralell  wth  the  river  and  Several  Cross  Streets 
It  is  pretty  well  Built,  And  has  2  large  presbyterian 
Meeting  houses  And  one  Episcopal  Church,  but  that 
is  without  a  Minister  Consequently  the  Sheep  are 
Scattered.  Here  is  carried  on  a  Great  trade  in  Ship 
building,  I  reckoned  26  upon  the  Stocks  in  the  town 
besides  w*  was  Launch**  and  then  in  the  river  And 
what  was  building  in  Other  Parts  Adjacent,  I  lodged 
at  Ebenezer  Chouts 

Being  first  day,  I  rode  about  two  miles  into  the      Sepe  2d 
Country  to  a  Meeting  at  Haveril  dined  at  a  friends 
house  Close  by  &  return'd  to  Chouts  in  the  Evening 

This  morning  set  out  for  Ipswich  being  1 1  Miles,  SePr  3d 
got  there  in  two  hours  being  Excellent  road  I  baited 
here,  This  is  a  pretty  large  Inland  Town  Scituated 
upon  a  fine  river  but  not  Navigable  so  high  as  the 
Town  There  is  a  Large  Presbyterian  Meeting  h° 
in  the  Middle  of  the  Town,  the  houses  here  seem  to 
be  mostly  old  And  upon  the  decline  they  have  Some 
Coasting  vessels  that  come  to  below  the  town 
at  at  some  distance  where  they  discharge  and  take 
in  their  Loadings  reCrossd  this  river  at  the  end  of 
the  Town  by  a  Wooden  bridge,  from  This  Town 
to  Beverley  Ferry  is  10  miles  and  one  on  the  other 
Side  to  Salem,  This  last  stage  is  most  Excellent 

Road,  even,  Smooth  and  hard  Gravell 

I  dined  at  the  widdow  Pratts  at  Salem  and  Spent 
the  afternoon  with  Cap1  Ingersoll  &  Cap*  Pointon 
who  are  my  Old  Acquaintance,  Lodged  wth  Cap1 
Ingersoll,  Salem  is  a  large  Town  well  built,  many 
genteel  large  houses  (which  tho'  of  wood)  are  all 

[  15  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

*plasterd  on  the  outside  in  Imitation  of  Hewn 
Stone,  Here  is  a  good  Harbour  for  Small  vessels, 
and  Several  good  Wharfs  &  Warehouses  &  a  good 
trade  to  the  Westindies  for  their  fish  and  Lumber 
&C. 

About  4  miles  from  hence  S°Ward  Stands  the 
town  of  Marblehead,  I  was  not  there  as  it  lyes 
Something  out  of  the  road  to  Boston  and  the  way  to 
it  is  very  Stoney  &  Rugged  they  carry  on  a  good 
trade  in  fishing  having  not  less  then  160  or  170 
Sail  of  Scooners  intirely  Imployd  in  that  Branch 
of  Bussiness  And  A  mercht  there  whose  name  is 
Hooper-  Sends  up  the  Straights  5  pr  6  vessels  of 
his  own  with  fish  every  year 

Sepr4th  This  morning  Set  out  for  Boston  with  Cap* 
Pointon's  Mare  &  Chair  &  left  one  of  my  hired 
horses  at  Salem  from  which  the  Ist  Stage  is  to  Linn 
being  8  Miles  this  is  a  Neat  Pleasant  Country  Town 
or  village  but  very  Irregular  from  Linn  to  winisimet 
ferry,  or  Chelsey  ferrey  is  7  Miles,  and  from  thence 
over  the  Bay  to  Boston  is  Reckoned  One  &  A  Half 
mile 

And  I  am  of  Opinon  tis  near  two  miles  I  drove 
the  Mare  and  Chair  in  2%  hours  from  Salem  to 
the  ferry  which  is  15  Miles  at  Least;  we  got  over 
the  ferry  by  Eleven  o'Clock  And  dined  at  a  Widdow 
Womans  Near  the  ferry,  and  after  dinner  went  to 
the  Exchange  Tavern  &  from  thence  to  Cap*  Hugh 
Canes  &  took  Lodgings  at  one  Arthurs  for  myself 
and  Man  Yorkshire 

*This  is  a  Mistake  they  are  pland  &  Painted 

[   16   ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Nothing  remarkable  this  day  dined  at  My  Lodg-      Sepr  5th 
ings 

Dined  with  Cap*  Hugh  Cane  &  after  dinner  took         6th 
a  Walk  with  him  &  Wm  Husbands  round  the  town 
to  See  what  was  most  Remarkable 

Dined   with   Jacob    Ryall   Esqr   in    Comp*   with  7 

Henry  Vassels  &  in  the  Evening  went  with  said 
Vassels  to  Cambridge  in  his  Chase  being  8  miles 
the  land  way  but  Over  Charles  town  ferry  tis  Only 
Recon'd  4  Miles 

Return^  from  Cambridge  to  Boston  In  Henry  175° 
Vassels's  Chase  by  way  of  Charles  Town  where  we 
Crossed  the  ferry  and  dined  with  Cap*  Combes 
Charles  Town  is  pretty  Large  &  a  Country  town 
Scituate  upon  a  Peninsula  between  Mistick  river 
&  Charles  River  &  is  Caled  the  Mother  of  Bos 
ton  being  Settled  before  it  &  parted  from  Boston 
only  by  Charles  River  over  which  there  is  a  ferry 
very  well  Attended  &  the  River  here  is  as  broad 
as  the  Thames  at  London,  This  town  has  two  large 
Streets  that  Come  down  towards  the  ferry,  and 
Handsome  large  Meeting  House  &  Good  Market 
place  It  has  but  Little  trade  as  Boston  is  so  Near 
it  most  people  in  trade  Choose  to  live  there 

Being  first  day  dined  at  my  Lodgings  being  much          9th 
out  of  Order  with  the  Cholick  &  A  Cold  in  the  Even-         175° 
ing  went  home  wth  H  Vassels  to  Cambridge  in  his 
Chariot 

Henry  Vassels  &  Self  went  in  his  Chace  to  Dor-     SePr  10th 
Chester  to  dine  with  Cole0  Rob*  Oliver  being  9  Miles 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Returned  in  the  Evening;  This  is  a  very  Pleasant 
country  town  And  Stands  about  4  Miles  from  Bos 
ton,  here  the  Land  Seems  to  Exceed  any  that  I  have 
Seen  in  this  Country,  &  their  Orchards  Seem  to  be 
of  the  Best  fruit  trees  And  are  very  large  which 
enables  them  to  make  abundance  of  Cyder;  Old 
Parson  Jn°  Chickly  &  his  wife  came  from  Provi 
dence  In  a  Chair  47  Miles  &  Lodged  that  night 
with  Henry  Vassels 

Sepr  llth  We  went  with  a  Couple  of  Country  Clergymen, 
Conducted  by  Hancock  one  of  the  Tutors  to  See  the 
College  at  Cambridge,  Which  Consists  of  three 
Separat  Brick  buildings  which  was  Errected  at  differ 
ent  times  The  first  About  the  year  1638  and  called 
Harvard  College  from  one  Harvard  who  was  a 

1750  great  Encourager  of  it,  And  as  their  Stock  Increased 
Sepr  lln  faQy  added  two  Other  Large  buildings,  One  of  which 
is  called  Stoughton  hall,  And  although  the  2  wings  do 
not  Join  to  the  Middle  builds  yet  they  are  So  placed 
As  to  form  a  very  handsom  Area  or  Courtyard  in 
the  Middle,  there  is  also  a  Small  Chapell  where  the 
Students  hear  prayers  twice  every  day  they  are 
About  100  in  Number,  and  as  likely  well  looking 
young  men  from  about  15  to  20  years  of  age  as  any 
I  have  Seen,  They  have  a  Large  &  Commodious 
Library  but  the  books  are  mostly  Old  And  not  kept 
in  that  Order  One  could  wish,  They  have  also  Some 
Natural  Curiositys  but  in  no  regularity  nor  do  they 
know  what  many  of  'em  Are 

1750         The    Town    of    Cambridge    is    well    Scituated    On 
Sepr  11       Charles  River  which  is  Navigable  to  the  Town  and 

[   18  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

over  wch  there  is  a  very  good  wooden  bridge  but 
has  no  trade  (being  too  Near  to  Boston)  the  Inhabi 
tants  depends  Chiefly  on  their  Courts  &C.  being  the 
Chiefe  of  a  County  And  the  Colledge  &C  There  are 
Some  good  homes  here  and  the  town  is  laid  out  very 
Regular,  but  for  want  of  trade  One  4th  part  of  it 
is  not  built  The  Country  here  abouts  is  well  Cleard 
and  the  ground  looks  very  Promising  for  Corn  or 
Grass  After  our  return  from  the  Colledg  dined  with 

H  Vassels 

H.  Vassels,  One  Ellerey,  Old  Chickley  And  my-  Sepr  12 
self  Went  in  2  Chases  to  Castle  William,  which 
Stands  upon  an  Island  in  the  Bay  3  Miles  below 
Boston  and  12  from  Cambridge  where  we  dined 
with  the  Captain  Chaplain  &c  in  the  Great  Hall — 
This  fortification  was  built  very  early  after  the  Set-  l750 
tlement  was  made,  but  very  Irregular,  upon  which  SePrl2th 
King  William  Sent  over  An  Engineer  to  repair  the 
Same,  Instead  of  which  he  demolished  it,  And 
Errected  a  more  regular  Fortress  in  its  room  and 
Called  it  Castle  William,  Since  wch  Com°  Knowles 
has  added  greatly  to  its  Strength  by  an  Additional 
Battery,  which  mounts  a  great  many  Guns,  So  that 
now  it  may  be  reckon'd  Amongst  the  Strongest  forti 
fications  in  Our  America  A  regular  Watch  being 
Kept  night  And  day,  And  not  a  vessel  passes  into 
Boston  Harbour,  or  out  wthout  being  hail'd  from 
the  fort,-as  the  only  Good  Channel  for  Shiping  lyes 
Close  Along  the  Shore  of  this  Island  and  within 
Pistol  Shot  of  the  Castle  Where  I  believe  there  is 
not  less  then  150  pieces  of  Cannon  a  great  Q*y  of 

[  19  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Small  arms,  And  a  Considerable  Number  of  men 
always  upon  duty 

1750  About  2  good  leagues  below  the  fort  or  Castle 
SePri2th  §tan(js  a  very  gooj  lighth°  for  the  Direction  of 
Shiping,  and  in  war  time  the  make  Signals  to  the 
Castle  upon  Seeing  Any  number  of  Shiping  by  Low 
ering  &  hoisting  a  flag  as  many  times  as  the  See 
vessels  in  the  offing 

13th  Return^  to  Cambridge  in  the  evening  H.  Vassels 
Brought  me  down  to  Charles  Town  ferry  in  his 
Chase  &  then  returnd  I  came  over  and  dined  wth 
Cap*  Cane  But  was  invited  to  dine  with  Isaac  Ryall 
Esq  upon  his  Commenceing  a  C  of  the  Horse 

'twas  Said  he  that  day  Entertaind  between 
3  &  400  men,  And  Suposd  it  lost  him  a  Couple  of 
Thousand  Pounds  O  T 

14th  I  dined  with  Capt  James  Forbes  &  Spent  the 
Evening  With  Cap1  Jn°  Lang  from  Whitley  who 
was  building  a  Ship  here  for  the  Coal  trade 

15th  I  dined  with  Foster  Hutchinson  &  Spent  the  Even 
ing  wth  James  Griffin  One  of  their  Most  Eminent 
Merchts  And  an  Agreeable  man 

1750  Being  the  first  day  of  the  week  I  was  At  Meeting 

Sepr  16       anj  dined  with  my  friend  Benj*  Bagnall  Sene  And  in 

the  Evening  took  leave  of  Boston  And  Went  in  the 

Charrot  with  my  friend  H.  Vassels  to  Cambridge 

and  Also  Man  Yorkshire  &  our  baggage 

BOSTON  is  a  large  well  built  town  (&  by  some 
writirs  Called  a  City)  Chiefly  of  Brick  altho  there 
are  a  good  many  Wooden  houses  that  make  a  very 

[    20    ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

good  figure,  'Tis  Computed  to  be  near  two  miles 
in  Length  from  Charles  Town  ferry,  to  Fortifica 
tion  Gate  upon  the  Neck  And  Six  in  Circumferrence 
And  to  Contain  About  3000  houses  And  20000 
Inhabitants;  the  Streets  are  all  well  paved  a  thing 
rare  in  New  England,  And  in  the  North  End  of  the 
town  Crooked,  Narrow,  And  disagreeable  but  from 
the  State  house  S°ward  fine  Open  Capacious 
Streight  Streets  from  the  Cover  House  to  the  Stateh0 
is  one  of  the  finest  I  saw  in  america  Called  Cornhill, 
Also  King  street  which  Extends  from  the  State- 
house  to  the  head  of  the  Long  wharf  is  A  curious 
fine  Open  Genteel  Street  At  the  uper  end  of  which, 
Near  the  end  of  the  Statehouse  (which  the  walk 
in,  in  Bad  weather)  the  Merchants  meet  every 
day  about  Eleven  o'Clock  &  Continue  continue 
until  near  One  before  the  retire  to  dinner:  Amongst 
whom  you  will  find  very  good  entertainment,  And 
their  houses  furnished  in  an  Elegant  manner  Their 
dress  very  genteel  &  In  my  Opinion  both  men  & 
Women  are  too  Expensive  in  that  respect 

There  Publick  buildings  are,  first  the  State  or 
Province  house  where  the  Governour  his  Councele 
and  the  Assembly,  or  house  of  Representatives  meet 
to  make  laws  &Ca  And  a  large  Room  for  the  Courts 
of  Justice  to  be  held  in  And  the  ground  room  as  be 
fore  is  made  use  of  as  a  Charge  at  times —  Fanni- 
velle  Hall,  built  by  Peter  Faniuelle  &  cost  as  it  is  rd 
£20000,  which  he  gave  to  the  Town  the  botton 
part  for  a  Market  house  &  Above  Stairs  for  the 
Transacting  of  Publick  affairs  of  the  Town 

[    21     ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

1750  But  what  is  Surprizing  to  Strangers  before  it  was 
Accepted  b  the  town  It  was  put  to  the  vote  whether 
or  no  it  Should  be  Accepted  of  and  was  Only  Car 
ried  by  6  or  8  votes  So  great  is  the  Aversion  of  the 
vulgar  to  any  Publick  or  Stated  markets,  or  Market 
days  which  is  now  in  Some  measure  got  the  better 
of,  There  is  Nineteen  different  places  of  Worship 
in  the  Town  (to  wit)  thirteen  of  the  Independents 
Presbyterians  &  newlights  &C*  but  I  look  upon  the 
Church  of  Boston  to  Consist  Chiefly  of  the  first, 
two  Baptists  Meetings  three  of  the  Established 
Church  of  England  which  Seems  to  me  to  gain 
Ground  all  over  New  England,  Also  One  Quaker 
Meeting  h°  So  Called,  by  the  Map  of  this  town  the 
Author  Makes  17  Spires  Cupola's  &Ca  Two  of 
which  I  find  to  be  his  own  Invention  &  Imposition 
on  the  Publick;  this  town  Stands  upon  a  Peninsula 
which  is  Joined  at  the  South  End  by  A  Narrow  neck 
of  Land  in  Some  places  not  more  then  40  yds  broad, 

1750  (and  pallisadod  Across,  with  a  Strong  gate  to  Pass 
through  when  they  go  out,  or  come  into  town)  And 
at  the  bottom  of  a  large  bay  guarded  from  the  Sea  by 
many  fine  Island,  Several  of  wch  are  inhabited  & 
have  Excellent  Pasturage,  this  harbour  is  large  & 
Comodious  for  Trade  having  a  Sufficient  depth  of 
water  which  allows  the  vessels  to  come  up  to  the 
wharfs  one  of  which  *called  the  Long  wharfe  is 
near  half  a  Mile  in  Length  running  from  the  Bottom 

*This  is  the  Boston  people's  Acco1  But  Since  have  been 
Informed  by  one  who  Measured  it  &  found  it  to  be  only  700  y^s 
in  Length  See  the  Conclusion  of  this  Itinerary 

[    22    ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

of  King  Street  directly  into  the  Harbour,  where  ves 
sels  lye  moor'd  to  it  in  great  Safty  and  discharge 
there  Cargos  into  Warehouses  that  are  Errected 
upon  the  Northside  of  Sd  Wharfe  almost  the  length 
of  it,  besides  this  there  are  vast  Numbers  of  other 
wharfs  Warehouses  &  Docks  &C  where  vessels  Load 
&  Discharge  there  cargos  wthout  the  help  of  Boats 
Lighters  &C  and  Great  ease  to  the  People 

The  trade  of  Boston  Seems  to  be  upon  the  decline  1750 
in  my  Opinion,  for  I  do  not  see  Any  thing  they  can  Sepr  16 
call  a  Staple  amongst  them  Save  Ship  Building  and 
Somthing  of  the  fishing  trade,  and  that  cannot  be 
called  properly  their's,  as  it  is  not  taken  by  the 
Inhabitants  of  Boston  but  those  of  Cape  Ann, 
Marblehead,  &  Salem,  where  they  go  to  purchass 
their  fish  for  Exportan  and  their  Oil  &C  from  the 
people  of  Nantucket,  Their  Lumber  from  the  Gov* 
of  Piscataway,  york  County,  the  Province  of  Main, 
&  as  far  to  the  Eastwd  as  Casco  bay,  There  are  the 
Chiefe  Articles  they  export,  as  to  Imports  they  have 
a  good  Share,  viz  large  qtys  of  Dry  goods  of  all 
Kinds,  from  England,  Rum,  Sugar,  &  Melassas 
from  the  West  indies,  &  Bread  &  flour  from  Phila 
delphia,  also  Bar  Iron  for  which  they  Send  them 
Rum  of  their  Own  distillation  Some  refind  Sugar, 
&  Some  fish  &Ca  And  the  rest  in  cash  whilst  they  had  1750 
it,  but  now  there  is  little  of  that  left  Since  they  have  SePr  16 
by  an  Act  of  Assembly  called  in  all  the  Province  bills 
&  Issued  out  of  the  Treasury  the  Dollars  (to  the 
Amo.  of  £170,000  Sterg.  and  upwards)  granted 

[  23  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

them  by  Parliment  towards  defraying  their  Expences 
in  going  agst  Cape  briton  as  they  were  very  much 
Straightened  to  make  their  Remittances  Especially 
to  England  these  dollars  has  been  almost  every  one 
of  em  Picked  up  for  that  End  so  that  at  present  they 
seem  to  be  without  money  or  Credit,  which  is  a 
Miserable  Scituation 

They  are  esteemd  to  build  the  best  Ships  here  in 
any  part  of  North  America,  for  the  goodness  of 
work  &  their  wood  is  not  Inferiour,  if  they  Choose 
the  best,  but  there  is  So  many  Sorts  of  Oak  here, 
that  a  Stranger  is  in  great  danger  to  be  Imposed 
upon  except  he  meet  with  a  faith  full  man  and  Such 
are  not  always  to  be  met  wth  by  Strangers;  The 
Artificers  in  this  Place  Exceed  Any  upon  ye  Conti 
nent  And  are  here  also  Most  Numerous  as  Cabinet 
Makers,  Chace  &  Coach  Makers,  Shoe  Makers, 
1750  Taylors  Peruke  Makers  Watchmakers,  Printers, 
Sepr  16  Smiths,  &C  &C  The  Merchants  are  Numerous  but 
many  of  them  want  bottom  to  Carry  on  An  Advan 
tageous  &  Extensive  trade  Others  of  'em  tho'  not 
many,  have  Acquired  Opulent  fortunes  and  with 
great  Reputation 

there  has  been  Built  here  in  one  year  (i.e.  in  the 
Province)  700  Sail  of  vessels  200  of  which  were 
from  100  to  200  Ton  And  1000  Sail  has  been 
Clear'd  out  of  this  port  in  One  year,  but  now  their 
woods  are  very  much  Cut  down  and  destroyed  and 
what  they  have  is  brought  along  way  by  land  Car 
riage  in  many  places,  which  makes  building  Come 
much  dearer  than  formerly 

[    24   ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Continued  at  Cambridge  boug*  a  horse  from  One     Sepr  17th 
Stedman    for   £160   OT.    And   hired   Another    for 
Yorkshire 

Set  out  for  Rhode  Island,  H.  Vassels  And  his  Doo  18th 
Wife,  Mary  Phips  The  Lieu1  Goves  Daughter  wth 
Two  Servants  &C  To  Accompany  me  So  far  on  my 
Journey,  Our  first  Stage  was  19  Miles  to  A  house 
Kept  by  one  Robins  where  we  dined  upon  Roastd 
Partridges  Fat  bacon  &  Irish  Potatoes  now  plenti 
fully  Produced  in  that  Part  of  the  world  &  tollerably 
good,  In  the  Afternoon  we  travelled  19  Miles  more 
to  One  Mother  Stacks,  who  I  thought  realy  very 
Slack  in  her  Attendance  for  twas  with  great  Intreaty 
and  fair  words  that  we  obtained  a  Candle  altho 
twas  So  dark  when  we  lighted  that  we  could  Scarce 
See  Another  &  What  was  worse  She  had  nothing  in 
the  world  for  Supper  However  upon  Rummaging 
the  Chace  box  we  found  in  our  own  Store  a  Couple 
of  Roasted  Fowles  Some  white  biscuit,  Lemons, 
Rum,  Sugar  &C  So  that  out  of  our  owrn  Store  we 
made  out  a  Handsome  Supper  &  Liquor  to  it  but 
could  not  do  So  well  for  Lodgings  our  Beds  being 
very  Indifferent 

This  Morning  we  passed  Sea  Conk  plain  being 
about  3  miles  over  wthout  a  Shrub  and  quite  Levell, 
Sorroundd  with  woods  makes  no  disagreeable 
apearance,  here  we  left  Providence  road  upon  our 
Right  hand  and  proceeded  to  one  Hunts  at  Rehoboth 
being  9  Miles  where  we  Breakfasted,  from  thence 
we  Came  through  Some  fine  tall  woods  of  Oak  tim 
ber  the  best  I  had  yet  seen  to  Swansey  ferry  being  4 

[  25  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Miles  which  we  passed  in  very  heavy  rain,  And 
Came  to  Bristol  before  dinner,  Dined  at  One  Wid- 
dow  Pains  a  Private  house  but  sent  Our  horses  to 
the  Tavern 

Bristol  is  a  Small  town  but  regularly  laid  out  in 
Squares  many  lots  in  which  are  not  built  One  large 
Desenting  Meeting  h°  besides  which  I  did  not  See 
any  Other  Publick  building 

This  Town  lyes  at  the  bottom  of  Rhode  Island 
bay  or  harbour  has  good  depth  of  water,-And  Sev 
eral  Wharfs  where  a  vessel  may  lye  And  there  Load 
&  Discharge  at  Pleasure;  But  the  Town  of  New 
port  seems  to  draw  away  Most  of  the  Trade  from 
this  as  Most  Large  places  do  from  new  Settlements 
Notwithstanding  they  have  Some  vessels  in  the  west- 
india  trade  and  build  many  vessels  here  And  in  the 

Neighbourhood It  is  a  proverb  here  that  Bristol 

is  Only  remarkable  for  its  plenty  of  women  and 
Geese 

Sepr  19th  After  dinner  we  went  to  Bristol  ferry  being  2 
Miles  and  Crossed  the  Same  where  we  Entered  upon 
the  N.E.  End  of  Rhode  Island  and  Came  the  Same 
Evening  to  New  Port  being  12  Miles  and  Lodged  at 
the  late  Deputy  Governour  Wra  Ellereys  but  Sent 
our  horses  to  the  Tavern 

Sepr  20th  We  all  dined  with  Our  fr'd  Ellereys  Lady  he 
being  out  of  Town  and  in  the  afternoon  I  left  my 
Compn  there  and  went  to  Cap*  Jn°  Jepson's  where 
I  lodged  as  Also  my  man  &  horse  during  my  Stay 
in  R.  I, 

Sepr  2lst          I  dined  with  Cap1  Jonathan  Thurston 

[  26  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

I  dined  at  John  Jepsons  and  in  the  Afternoon  I  22d 
went  with  my  fellow  travelers  to  See  Captain 
Molbons  Country  house  It  Stands  upon  a  tolerable 
Advantageous  Scituation  About  a  mile  out  of  the  Sepr  22d 
Town  And  makes  a  good  Appearance  at  a  distance, 
but  when  you  came  to  Survay  it  nearer  it  does  not 
Answer  your  Expectation  It  is  Built  of  Hewn  Stone 
and  all  the  Corners  and  Sides  of  the  windows  are 
all  painted  to  represent  Marble,  You  Enter  from 
a  large  flight  of  Steps  into  the  first  Story  which  is 
very  Grand  the  Rooms  being  to  Appearance  16  or 
17  foot  high  but  the  upper  Story  is  Neither  of  the 
proportionable  in  the  height  of  the  rooms  nor  Size 
of  the  Windows  the  Cellars  Kitchins  &C  are  below 
Stairs  'tho  Only  upon  the  Surface  of  the  Earth  be 
fore  the  house  is  a  Handsome  Garden  with  variety 
of  wall  fruits  And  flowers  &C ;  this  house  &  Garden 
is  reckond  the  wonder  of  that  part  of  the  Country 
not  being  Such  another  in  this  Government 
N :  B  we  Enter'd  this  Governm*  of  Rhode  Island  at 
Bristol  ferry  wch  Parts  it  from  the  Massachusetts- 
bay 

This  day  I  was  'twice  at  Meeting  which  is  very  Sepr  23d 
large;  the  Meets  house  is  also  large  and  has  two 
tier  of  Gallerys  And  a  Cupola  on  the  top,  but  the 
friends  in  my  Opinion  are  as  Topping  as  their  house, 
for  I  did  not  Imagine  one  half  of  the  Congregation 
had  been  of  that  Society  and  I  afterwards  found 
they  were  not  to  be  known  by  their  Language  dress, 
or  behaviour  Altho'  there  Seems  to  be  a  few  wn 
(Compair'd  with  the  whole)  that  are  very  Exam- 

[  27  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

plary  in  every  respect  and  an  honour  to  their  prof- 
fession  and  the  Society;  this  day  dined  wth  my  land 
lord  Jepson 

24th  This  Morning  I  Accompany'd  my  good  friends 

Henry  Vassals  &  his  Spouse  And  Mary  Phips  on 
their  return  back  as  far  as — Bristol  ferry  which  is 
12  Miles  where  I  took  leave  of  'em  &  returnd  to  Jn° 
Jepsons  to  dinner 

25th  I  dined  wth  Cap1  John  Thurstone 

26.  I  dined  wth  our  fr'd  John  Easton 

27-  I  dined  wth  Cap*  Jn°  Brown  Merch* 

Sepr  28th          I  dined  at  Jonathan  Thurstons 

29.  I  dined  at  Abram  Redwoods 

30  I  dined  at  Jn°  Jepsons  &  was  a  Meeting 

Octe  1st  I  dined  with  D° 

2d  I  dined  with  Joseph  Whipple  this  day  we  walked 

over  the  hill  behind  the  town  to  the  Beach  and  to 
Nichs  Eastons  where  we  See  his  little  dear  park  and 
his  pond  where  he  keeps  his  wild  geese,  brants,  & 
wild  ducks  &Ca 

Newport  is  the  only  town  in  the  Island  and  Stands 
on  the  NW  Side  thereof  and  Near  the  West  end, 
and  upon  arising  ground  from  the  Sea  or  harbour 
is  in  the  General  well  built  And  all  of  wood  (Ex 
cept  the  Statehouse  and  one  of  Cap1  Molbons  which 
are  of  Brick)  the  houses  in  general  make  a  good 
Apearance  and  also  as  well  furnished  as  in  Most 
places  you  will  meet  with,  many  of  the  rooms  being 
hung  with  printed  Canvas  and  paper  &C  which  looks 
very  neat  Others  are  well  wainscoted  and  painted  as 
in  other  places  The  main  Street  is  called  a  Mile  long 

[  28  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

and  runs  Paralell  with  the  Harbour  besides  which 
there  are  Several  other  Streets  and  lanes  which  are 
regular  and  pretty  well  built,  That  part  of  the  town 
called  the  point  is  also  laid  out  in  Squares  and  pretty 
well  built,  they  have  abundance  of  good  wharves 
which  Extend  the  whole  length  of  the  town  where 
vessels  of  any  burthen  can  Load,  discharge,  or  heave 
down  without  the  help  of  Lighters  which  renders  it 
an  Excellent  Scituation  for  trade  and  more  Espe 
cially  as  it  is  so  near  the  Sea  that  vessels  are  out 
or  in,  in  a  Moment,  notwithstandg  the  labour  under 
one  great  inconvenience  that  is  their  Ships  &  ves 
sels  are  subject  to  the  worm  and  more  particularly 
at  the  point  where  the  best  water  is  but  this  is  only 
in  the  Sumr  time 

They  have  one  Wharf  which  by  way  of  preemi 
nence  is  Called  the  Long  wharf  and  runs  from  the 
bottom  of  a  Spacious  wide  Street  (at  the  uper  End 
of  which  Stands  the  Statehouse  fronting  to  the  Sea) 
about  half  a  Mile  into  the  harbour  And  then  turns 
with  an  Angle  and  Joins  it  Self  to  the  point,  There  is  175° 
a  Number  of  warehouses  built  upon  this  Noble 
wharf  in  Imitation  of  that  in  Boston  and  in  one  thing 
Exceeds  it  by  the  Joining  to  the  Mainland  at  both 
ends  it  forms  a  fine  Bason  Where  Small  vessels  lye 
very  safe  in  the  Winter  time  Entering  by  the  Draw 
bridge  that's  placed  about  the  Middle  of  the  said 
long  wharfe 

There  is  Several  publick  buildings  in  this  Town 
worthy  of  Notice,  viz'  the  Statehouse  which  (as 
before)  Stands  at  the  upper  end  of  a  Spacious  wide 

[  29 1 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Street  fronting  to  the  harbour,  is  built  of  Brick  and 
is  a  Genteel  Large  buildg  There  is  a  large  meeting 
house  for  the  friends  as  before  Observed;  One  with 
a  large  handsome  Steeple  for  the  Presbyterians; 
one  DO  for  D°  Somthing  Smaller  One  for  the 
Church  of  England  which  is  very  neat  and  Genteel, 
and  pretty  large;  One  of  the  7th  day  &  one  of  the 
first  day  Baptists,  there  is  also  a  good  many  Jews 
but  the  have  no  Sinagogue,  They  have  here  a  very 

1750  Handsome  Library  built  upon  the  hill  above  the 
Town  and  is  well  adapted  for  the  use  designed  being 
Only  one  Story  but  the  floor  raised  Several  Steps,  and 
from  thence  they  have  a  good  prospect  of  the  Har 
bour  And  Neighbouring  Country  Abram  Redwood 
Made  a  present  to  the  Said  Library  of  £500  Sterg. 
value  in  books  on  Sundry  Subjects. 

Here  is  abundance  of  Transient  French  Merchts 
which  are  concerned  with  the  people  in  trade  to  Cape 
Briton,  Cape  Francois,  &C.  They  have  also  a  good 
trade  from  hence  to  the  Coast  of  Guinea,  The  Bay 
of  Honduras  for  Log  wood  which  the  send  chiefly  to 
Holland  and  have  alsorts  of  dutch  goods  in  return 
which  are  all  run  by  the  Connivance  of  good  natured 
officers  who  have  a  feeling  Sence  of  their  Neigh 
bours  Industry,  They  have  also  a  good  Trade  to  the 
w*  India  Islands  with  flour,  Pork,  Shingles,  Staves, 
Boards,  Horses,  &C  the  Chief  of  which  the  Pur- 
chass  from  their  Neighbours  in  Connecticut  Cov 
er  nm* 

1750  This  Island  is  throughout  like  a  Garden  from  the 
Industry  of  their  farmers  who  keep  there  ground 

[  30  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

very  Clean  Their  fences  are  Chiefly  of  Stone  made 
by  themselves  to  Save  their  wood  a  piece  of  Industry 
rarely  met  with  in  North  America,  They  do  not 
grow  any  wheat,  but  Some  Oats  and  a  good  deal  of 
Maze  &  they  have  Excellent  grass  and  fine  Cattle, 
the  largest  by  much  I  see  in  America 

Their  Curr'y  which  is  Chiefly  Paper  is  Esteem^ 
upon  the  worst  footing  of  any  in  N.  America  and 
depreciates  in  value  every  year,  yet  the  Legislature 
are  Generally  ready  to  Issue  a  fresh  bank,  upon 
the  Aplication  of  Any  one  of  their  Learn'd  body  who 
frequently  make  good  use  of  those  Opportunitys 

I  set  out  for  New  York  in  Compa  with  my  worthy      Octoe  3d 
friend  Geo :  Mifflin  this  day  about  10  o'Clock  I  hired 
a  horse  for  Yorkshire  from  Cap*  Josh  Scott  who  is 
now  Sherriff 

We  took  boat  at  the  Point  &  in  about  2  hours  landed      Octoe  3d 

upon  the  Island  of  Connanicut  being  3   Miles  but 

the    wind    blowed    very    Strong    agst    us,    we    then 

Crossed  this  Island  beg  one  Mile  to  the  Next  ferry 

but  it  blowd  So  hard  we  could  not  get  over  So  was 

Obliged  to  dine  with  an  ill  natured  Scold  at  the 

ferry  house  who  gave  us  Potatoes  &  Tatogue  with 

an  intolerable  dirty  Cloth  &C  however   after  the 

Dinner  we  got  over  the  ferry  being  3  miles,  in  Two 

hours  the  wind  Continuing  to  blow  hard  agst  us,          / 

from  hence  we  had  5  Miles  to  one  Caseys  at  Tower 

hill  very  bad  Stony  Road,  this  is  reckon'd  one  of  the 

best  houses  of  Entertainment  in  the  Governm*  but 

being  Court  time  &  a  number  of  People  there  we 

[  31  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

did  not  Stop,  but  proceeded  Along  the  Naraganset 
Country  9  miles  to  Sqe  Hills  at  Charles  Town 
where  we  Lodged,  This  Country  is  very  Subj*  to 
Stones  &C  And  uneven 


Octoe  4th 
1750 


Octoe  4th 
1750 


Octoo  5 


We  were  up  early  this  morning  in  order  to  Pro 
ceed  on  our  Journey  wn  Behold  our  horses  had  made 
their  Escape  out  of  the  Stable  and  being  late  before 
they  were  found,  &  yorkshire  who  went  in  Pursuit 
of  'em  with  Hills  Indian  Boy  did  not  return  till  after 
Sunset  Obliged  us  to  Stay  here  another  night  in  the 
Meantime  my  Fellow  Traveller  &  Self,  went  out  a 
Shooting  Killd  some  Squirrels  and  some  very  pretty 
birds  called  Marsh  quails  Something  bigger  then  a 
field  fare  and  fine  Eatg  we  also  went  to  See  the 
Pallace  of  the  King  of  the  Narraganset  Indians  but 
he  being  a  Minor  &  With  his  Grandmother  about 
9  or  10  Miles  up  the  Country  at  another  Town,  we 
were  deprived  of  a  Sight  of  his  Majesty,  Our  Land 
lord  Hill  told  us  that  he  has  got  a  good  many  Sub 
jects  that  are  Sober  Religeous  People  and  about 
20,000  Acres  of  land  in  his  Own  right  which  he  & 
his  Ancestors  have  held  theirs  even  since  the  dis 
covery  of  this  Country  by  the  English  and  no  doubt 
long  before  Some  Gentlemen  in  Newport  are  a  kind 
of  Guardians  to  him  and  receive  his  rents,  Lease  out 
his  lands  &Ca  for  him  during  his  Minority  as  well 
to  the  Whites  as  his  Own  Subjects 

We  Set  out  pretty  early  after  riding  a  mile  We 
left  the  Indian  Wigwams  on  Our  Left  And  their 
Kings  palace  on  our  right  which  is  but  an  Indifferent 

[  32  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 


1750 
Octo  5th 


house  Built  of  Stone  two  Story  high,  the  Glass  very 
much  broke  and  Otherwise  to  Appearance  very  much 
out  of  Repair,  we  travelled  through  a  great  deal  of 
Stony  uneven  road  until  we  got  to  one  Cole0  Wil 
liams  who  keeps  a  house  of  Entertainm*  So  Called 
at  Stoninton  being  21  Miles  where  we  dined  upon 
Salt  pork  and  Turneps  with  thick  Cyder  to  drink, 
here  we  Crossd  Mistick  river  at  a  wooden  bridge, 
and  So  proceeded  through  Groton  a  very  Stoney 
uneven  Country  but  no  high  land  only  full  of  Small 
hills  or  risings  &  fallings  9  Miles  which  broug*  us 
upon  the  banks  of  the  river  Thames  Opposite  to 
New  London  we  Crossed  this  river  by  the  ferry 
boat  where  it  is  esteem^  a  mile  over  &  took  up  our 
Lodgings  at  one  Cap1  Bradocks  formerly  a  Sea 
Captain  who  behaves  with  great  Politeness  &  Good 
Manners  to  his  Guests  when  Compared  with  the 
rude  lazy  drones  of  this  Part  of  the  world 

We  took  a  Walk  about  a  Mile  out  of  town  to  See  Octoe  6th 
Cap*  Thos  Olliver  at  his  house,  The  Surface  of  the 
ground  is  almost  Coverd  with  large  immovable 
Stones  that  makes  it  mighty  difficult  to  Plough  &C 
here;  they  Sow  Some  wheat  &  Rye,  Oats  &Ca 
Abound  in  Orchards  And  Great  Plenty  of  Fruit  and 
Make  Abundance  of  Cyder  Spent  the  Evening  with 
Mathew  Stewart  who  treated  us  very  kindly  And  in 
a  very  Genteel  manner 

We  walked  to  Cap*  Olivers  and  dined  with  him, 
his  Neighbour  Cap1  Duffy  &  An  Other  Gentleman 
dined  there  also 

NEW  LONDON  is  the  Capital  of  the  County  of 

[  33   1 


Octoe  7 
1750 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 


1750 
Octoe  7th 


Octoe  8th 


that  name  And  pleasantly  Scituated  upon  the  river 
Thames  abf  5  miles  from  the  Sea  (or  more  prop 
erly  the  Sound  that  lyes  between  long  Isld  And  the 
Continent)  And  is  Navigable  for  vessels  that  draw 
*2O  foot  water  there  is  but  few  vessels  belonging 
to  this  port  which  are  Chiefly  in  the  west  india  trade, 
But  as  it  is  one  of  the  Chiefe  ports  in  Connecticut 
Governm*  Many  vessels  that  are  Owned  in  Other 
parts  of  the  Governm*  come  here  to  Clear  out  and 
go  under  the  Name  of  New  Londonery,  They  have 
Some  very  good  wharfs  here  wch  their  vessels  lay 
along  Side  of  to  load  or  discharge ;  The  town  Seems 
to  Improve  by  the  Appearance  of  their  houses  many 
of  which  Appear  New  And  Neat  all  built  of  wood  & 
Consists  of  one  Street  about  A  mile  long  by  the  river 
side,  Altho'  upon  the  Bank  which  is  of  a  Moderate 
height  and  as  Several  lots  on  that  Side  the  Street  are 
not  built  it  affords  a  fine  prospect  over  the  river  and 
the  Adjaient  Country;  There  is  in  this  Town  One 
Episcopal  Church  and  One  Presbyterian  Meeting 
house  and  now  we  are  Enter'd  Connecticut  Govern 
ment,  The  Chiefe  of  the  trade  of  this  Place  Consists 
of  Lumber,  Porke,  Horses  &C  to  the  westindies 

I  bought  a  little  mare  from  One  Silas  Cooke  a 
Shoemaker  to  Mount  Yorkshire  upon  which  cost 
me  w*  Saddle  &  bridle  £89  OT-  and  Left  J:  Scotts 
hired  horse  to  be  returnd  by  the  post,  and  we  Set  out 
with  our  fr'd  Capt  Thos  Oliver  who  proposed  to 
See  us  on  our  way  as  far  as  New  Haven  We  had  very 
Stoney  road  to  the  rope  ferry  which  is  6  miles  we  got 

*  or  any  vessels  w^-ever 

[  34  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

over  very  well  being  So  narrow  that  a  rope  is  Octoe  8 
Stretchd  aCross  for  the  Safty  of  travelers  as  the  tide 
runs  here  with  great  violence,  from  hence  to  Say 
brook  ferry  is  12  Miles  which  is  Near  half  a  Mile 
wide  and  Crosses  the  Great  River  Called  Connecticut 
which  runs  through  the  heart  of  this  Province  and  is 
Navigable  about  60  Miles  up  the  Country  as  far  as 
Hartford  the  Capital  of  the  County  &  has  a  Con 
siderable  trade  inland  there  is  also  two  other  towns 
that  Stands  on  Each  side  the  Conflux  of  this  great 
river  called  Saybrook  &  Lime  which  have  not  much 
trade  from  Saybrook  ferry  to  the  widdow  Lays  is  7 
miles  Baited  from  thence  to  Killingworth  5  miles 
where  we  Lodged  at  one  Merrils  a  very  poor  Indif 
ferent  house  &  had  lodgings  had  Roasted  Oisters  for 
Supper  Killingsworth  is  a  pretty  long  Village  of  one 
Street  of  Houses  The  Land  here  abouts  appeard  to 
me  to  be  rich  and  good  and  by  Industry  I  believe  wod 
produce  plentifully 

From  Killingsworth  to  wst  Guilford  is  20  Miles,  Octoe  9th 
Breakfasted  at  one  Johnsons  West  Guilford  is  a 
large  Country  town  with  two  Meeting  houses  of  the 
Presbyterian  Perswasion  one,  of  the  New  and  the 
Other  of  the  Old  light  and  a  Church  And  a  large 
Spacious  green  in  the  Centre  of  the  Town  and  a  fine 
Country  about  it,  but  no  Navigable  river;  From 
hence  to  Branford  is  10  Miles  dined  at  one  Proctors 
this  is  a  Small  Country  town  from  hence  to  NEW 
HAVEN  is  10  Miles  3  miles  from  which  we  crossed 
a  Small  ferry  and  a  mile  from  that  nearer  Newhaven 

[  35   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

we  Cross  a  pretty  river  by  a  Long  wooden  Bridge 
where  the  tide  flows  above  it  considerably  here  we 
joyn  the  upper  Road  from  Boston  that  runs  through 
the  Country  at  a  Considerable  distance  from  the  Sea 
&  comes  through  Hartford,  Wallingford  &Ca  here 
the  produce  wheat,  Rye,  Hops  &  abundance  of 
Maze  or  Great  corn  which  they  Ship  of  at  New- 
haven  where  we  Arrivd  this  Evening  and  Lodged  at 
one  McNeals  an  Irishman  who  keeps  a  tollerable 
good  house  Compared  with  what  you  meet  with  in 
common 

NEW  HAVEN  is  the  Capital  of  the  county,  And 
covers  a  great  deal  of  ground  And  has  been  laid  out 
Regularly,  but  only  built  upon  here  and  there  it 
looks  very  indifferently,  It  is  a  Seaport  &  was  Set 
tled  very  early  and  was  then  the  Capital  of  the 
Province,  it  is  well  Scituated  for  Trade  being  near 
the  Center  of  the  Government,  Here  the  Councele 
&  Assembly  Sit  in  this  Month,  here  is  also  the 
County  Goal  And  two  large  Presbyterian  meeting 
houses  one  of  the  Old  the  other  of  the  new  light, 
Likewise  a  Colledge  for  the  Education  of  youth 
Called  YALE  COLLEDGE,  it  is  built  of  wood 
And  Consists  of  one  Long  Narrow  fabrick  with 
Brick  Chimneys  running  up  the  back  part  of  it  at 
Convenient  distances  the  whole  seems  to  be  very 
much  decayed,  (which  has  put  them  upon  building 
A  new  one  of  Brick  which  Seems  to  be  About  3 
foot  Above  the  Ground  &  And  will  front  towards  a 
large  Spacious  green  in  the  Middle  of  the  town, 
there  is  in  this  Colledge  a  Very  pretty  Library  And 

[36  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

well  kept,  their  Books  are  many  of  'em  of  Much  Octoe  9 
Later  date  and  better  Choose  then  those  at  Cam 
bridge  They  are  Obliged  for  a  good  part  of  them  to 
the  late  Dean  Berkley  now  Byshop  of  Cloyne  in 
Ireland,  they  have  also  Some  Curositys  in  this 
Library  And  Some  Aparatus  for  Natural  &  Experi 
mental  Philosophy  This  town  has  more  Advantages 
then  Any  other  in  this  Governm*  as  being  A  seaport, 
a  great  deal  of  Publick  Bussiness  transacted  here  as 
Courts  &  the  Sitting  of  the  Councell  &  Assembly 
And  the  great  highroad  that  runs  through  North 
America  and  which  divides  about  two  Miles  to  the 
Eastwd  as  Mentiond  Above  As  Also  the  Colledge 
which  Brings  many  People  here  from  different  parts 
of  the  Country  Especially  at  the  Commencem*  The 
Ground  about  this  Town  is  exceeding  levell  and  pro 
duces  well  but  is  not  reckon'd  So  rich  as  it  is  farther 
up  the  Country 

This  Morning  Set  out  for  Milford  which  is  12  Octoe  loth 
Miles,  (the  Residence  of  GoveLaws)  but  the  place 
being  very  Sickly  did  not  Stop  in  it,  It  is  a  good 
large  Country-  town  but  no  Seaport,  we  Kept  on 
to  Stratford  ferry  which  is  4  Miles  further  which 
we  Crossed  and  then  turnd  out  of  the  road  2  Miles 
to  See  SamlLyons  at  one  John  Pimms  where  he 
lodgd  found  him  Exceeds  weak,  we  dined  there  & 
then  Returnd  to  Stratford  3  miles  it  Rain'd  Excessive 
hard  both  the  forenoon  and  this  afternoon  we  Called 
at  A  house  here  but  could  not  have  Entertainm*  So 
we  rode  on  to  Pembroke  farm,  being  3  miles  And 

[  37   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Lodged  with  one  Lewis  there  who  keeps  a  decent 
Clean  house 

Octoellth  We  Set  forwd  this  Morning  &  breakfasted  at 
Fairfield  at  one  Penfields  &  had  Chocolate  &  Plenty 
of  Toast  being  6  miles  from  hence  we  rode  to 
NORWARK  where  we  dined  at  one  John  Beldons 
a  very  good  house  &  Civil  people  had  a  Dr  of  Lamb 
roastd  here  Sam  Burling  Joined  us  &  We  Set  for 
ward  in  the  afternoon  for  NYork. 

Octoellth  From  Fairfield  to  NORWALK  is  12  Miles  here  is 
a  pritty  river  which  we  Cross  And  about  a  mile 
below  the  town  it  is  Navigable  where  We  see  some 
small  vessels  lying  but  we  could  not  Learn  that  they 
had  much  trade  here,  from  Norwark  after  dinner 
we  rode  to  Horse  Neck  but  first  called  at  Stam 
ford  which  is  10  Miles  where  we  baited  at  a  Sorry 
house  where  we  had  some  Sour  Madeira  wine,  'Tis 
a  tollerable  Village  and  Some  good  land  about  it 
from  thence  proceeded  to  Horseneck  6  miles,  but 
before  we  got  there  had  Exceeding  heavy  rain  was 
quite  dark  and  Most  Intollerable  bad  road  We 
lodged  at  one  Meads  an  Illnaturd  old  fellow  and 
would  Scarce  give  us  lodging  tho'  we  were  under 
the  Above  hardships  &  his  One  Eyed  wife  little 
better  then  himself  &  wanted  a  barefooted  fellow 
who  we  afterwards  understood  to  be  her  Son  to 
Sleep  with  one  of  us  but  we  one  &  all  refused  the 
favour  &  where  he  went  I  Know  not  neither  do  I 
care 

[  38  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

From  that  Churlmeads  at  Horseneck  we  rode  3  Octoe  12th 
Miles  of  Most  miserable  road  to  Birom  river  where 
we  Entered  the  Governm*  of  Newyork  and  presently 
Found  an  Alteration  in  the  road  &  Buildings  &C, 
Everthing  from  this  Bridge  bearing  the  Marks  of 
Industry  7  miles  more  brought  us  to  Marrowneck 
where  we  Breakfasted  at  a  good  Clean  decent  house, 
and  had  plenty  of  Tea  Chocolate  and  Toast  And 
also  Sweetmeats,  we  had  not  seen  Such  Cheer  since 
we  left  Rhode  Island  And  as  I  observed  before 
Industry  appeard  in  the  whole  family  the  Girls 
hard  at  work  Some  Spinning  wool  others  flax  &C, 
from  Marrowneck  to  Kingsbridge  is  12  Miles  here 
we  dined  with  Some  other  Travelers  at  One  Stephen- 
sons  a  Quaker  who  keeps  one  of  the  Best  Eating 
houses  we  met  with,  we  had  a  Bass  fish  taken  out 
of  the  river  by  the  door  before  our  Eyes  &  some 
very  good  oysters  &C  This  is  one  of  the  best  built 
houses  for  a  Tavern  I  have  yet  seen  in  America  being  Octo  12 
all  built  of  good  Stone  the  Apartments  large  and 
lofty  And  a  Noble  Prospect  down  towards  the 
Sound;  Here  we  cross  the  River  upon  a  tall  bridge 
built  of  wood  the  Inn  &  this  bridge  belong  to  the 
Same  person;  This  river  is  a  Branch  of  the  Great 
North  River  that  breaks  out  of  it  a  little  above  this 
bridge  and  comes  down  this  way  and  runs  into  the 
Sound  above  New  York  and  is  what  makes  York 
Island,  &  in  Spring  tides  the  water  flows  up  this 
branch  until  runs  Into  the  North  river,  but  is  no  at 
all  Navigable  As  there's  abundance  of  rocks  be 
tween  this  bridge  and  North  river,  This  afternoon 

[  39  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 


Octoe  12th 
1750 


Octoe  13th 

14 
15 

16 
17 


18 


19 


Octoe  20 
1750 


we  rode  from  Kingsbridge  to  New  York  being  13 
Miles  of  very  good  road  And  is  near  the  Length  of 
york  Island  which  is  very  Narrow  but  Butified  with 
many  handsome  Seats  belonging  to  the  Gentlemen 
In  york,  where  we  Arrivd  About  Sunsett  and  put  up 
at  the  Sign  of  the  Horse  &  Cart  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  City  and  prov'd  to  be  very  bad  lodgings, 
altho  'tis  a  house  much  used 

Geo :  Mifflin  and  Self  dined  with  Sam1  Burling, 
and  I  went  &  Lodged  with  my  friend  William 
Coventry 

Geo:  Mifflin  &  Self  dined  w*  W™  Coventry  & 
we  both  went  to  Meeting 

Geo  Mifflin  Set  out  for  Philadelp*  And  I  dined 
with  Wm  Coventry 

I  dined  with  John  Fell,  &  Suppd  wth  T :  Heysham 

Wm  Coventry,  David  Algeo  jr  John  Willett  Tho8 
Willett  &  mySelf  Cross'd  the  ferry  from  NYork  to 
Long  Island  whereW.  C.  &  mySelf  hired  a  Chais 
and  we  all  travelld  to  Jamaica  being  12  Miles  where 
we  dined  at  one  Wests,  from  thince  W.Coventry 
David  Algeo  jr  &  Self  went  to  Hempstead  plains 
being  8  Miles  And  lodged  wth  D :  Algeo  Senr 

We  dined  at  David  Algeo's  Drank  Tea  at  Gove 
Martins  and  lodged  at  David  Algeo  Senr 

went  to  See  Parson  Davidsons  farm,  dined  at  Gove 
Martins,  Returnd  to  Jamaica  &  Lodged  at  Wests 
(8  miles 

Jamaica  is  a  pretty  village  and  Stands  in  a  Noble 
plain  that  Extends  for  many  miles  here  is  a  Goal, 
a  Court  house,  An  Episcopal  Church,  a  Dutch 

[  40  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Church,  &  a  presbyterian  Meeting  house  which 
makes  a  very  pretty  Appearance  at  Some  distance 
having  all  of  handsome  little  Spires  &C  We  re- 
turnd  from  Jamaica  by  way  of  Flatbush  a  pretty 
village  10  Miles  from  Jamaica  and  3  from  the  ferry 
here  is  arising  ground  where  I  went  up  and  had  an 
Extensive  prospect  to  Sandyhook  the  Neversinks 
and  out  to  Sea  as  also  to  the  Inland  part  of  the 
Country  we  got  well  over  the  ferry  &  home  to  dinner 

At.  W:  Coventrys  raind  all  ye  day  Octoe  2lst 

at  My  lodgings  23^  at  D° 22d 

Dined  at  Thomas  Heyshams  24 

Dined  with  Isaac  Latouch  25 

Dined  wth  John  Willett  &  at  James  Burlings  in          26 
the  Evening 

Dined  at  John  Fells  w*  Hy  Holland  27 

1750 

At  meetg  &  Dined  w*  Sam  Burling  Octo  28 

Dined  with  W™  Coventry  and  in  the  Afternoon  Do  29 
rode  out  to  Harlem  and  Several  other  Country  Seats 
in  the  Neighborhood  along  with  John  Fell  Samuel 
Burling  Giles  Heysham  &  bought  my  roan  Horse 
from  one  Edwd  Croston  a  Butcher  who  came  from 
Liverpoole  which  cost  me  £20 

THE  PROVINCE  OF  NEW  YORK  was  first 
discovered  by  one  Hudson  in  1608  And  Sold  to  the 
Dutch  who  called  it  Nova  Belgia,  But  Exception  was 
made  agst  the  Sale  by  King  James  as  being  wthout  his 
Licence,  However  it  remaind  in  the  Hands  of  the 
Dutch  until  the  Reign  of  King  Charles  the  Second 
when  it  was  taken  by  Carr  and  —  Nicholls  in  the 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 


1750 
Octoe  29th 


1750 
Octoe  29th 


year  1664  &  Settled  by  the  English,  About  half  the 
Dutch  familys  rather  then  remove  themselves 
Choose  to  take  the  Oaths  of  Fidelity  to  the  King 
of  England  and  remain  in  their  Settlements,  the 
Descendants  of  which  are  Still  very  Numerous  in 
the  Province  And  very  Industrious  People 

The  first  bounds  of  this  Province  extended  as  far 
as  Maryland  S°.,  the  Main  Continent  as  far  as  they 
could  go  the  the  Westward  And  Connciticut  or  a 
part  of  New  England  to  the  E.ward  It  is  now  re 
duced  to  a  much  Narrower  Compass,  for  King 
Charles  2<l  gave  all  that  tract  of  Land  between  the 
North  river  &  Maryland  to  the  Duke  of  york,  the 
Duke  made  a  Grant  of  Part  of  it  under  Propriaton 
who  called  it  East  &  West  Jersey  which  are  now 
the  limits  of  this  Province  to  the  Westward,  the 
Likewise  Include  Long  Island  (by  the  Dutch 
Called  — Nassau  Island)  Statten  Island  And  indeed 
they  Claim  all  the  Islands  Eastward  as  far  as  Nan- 
tucket,  but  they  have  only  the  Name  for  it  Seldom 
happens  that  they  can  get  any  taxes  from  them 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  (formerly  New 
Amsterdam)  is  Scituated  on  the  South  So:  W  point 
of  york  Island  One  part  of  the  Town  lying  upon  the 
Sound  that  Separates  this  Island  and  the  Mainland 
from  Long  Island,  which  is  the  Side  of  the  town 
where  all  the  Wharfs  are  Built  and  the  Ships  lye, 
The  great  North  river  Washes  the  other  Side  of 
the  town  faceing  the  Jerseys  which  Said  river  & 
the  Sound  Join  at  the  fort  at  the  Lower  end  of  the 

[  42  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

town  And  form  a  Spacious  Bay  with  many  Pretty 
Small  Islands  in  it 

This  City  is  well  Scituated  for  bussiness  having 
the  Advantage  of  all  the  trade  of  Connecticut  by 
the  Sound  as  also  the  coast  of  Long  Island  And  the 
Inland  Country  at  least  200  miles  by  the  North 
river  large  Sloops  go  as  far  as  Albany  wch  is  166 
miles  and  Smaller  craft  Amongst  the  Mohawks 
where  they  cary  on  a  great  trade  with  the  Indians; 
and,  About  Albany  &  Esopus  the  make  the  finest 
flours  in  America,  I  was  Credibly  Inform^  that  at 
the  last  mentiond  place  there  has  been  Sold  Farms 
at  £50  pAcre  taking  in  the  whole  Est  PMeasure 
Sandy  Hook  is  reckon'd  10  leagus  from  the  Town  Octoe  29 
this  is  where  we  enter  the  Ocean  but  I  cannot  think 
it  so  much  as  we  run  it  down  to  the  Hook  in  2  hours 
indeed  we  had  the  Advantage  of  Wind  &  tide 

The  vessels  by  this  means  in  the  winter  are  Soon 
into  the  Harbour,  And  Soon  out  when  the  wind 
Serves,  when  in  other  ports  they  are  frequently  frose 
up 

As  I  said  before  the  wharfs  &  places  where  there 
vessels  lye  are  on  the  Eastside  of  the  Town  &  for 
the  whole  Length  of  it  there  is  a  good  depth  of 
water  And  all  vessels  Load  &  Discharge  without  the 
help  of  boats  or  lighters  which  is  very  convenient, 

Neither  their  Streets  nor  houses  are  at  all  Regu 
lar  Some  being  4  or  5  Story  high  &  Others  not  above 
two,  Not  any  of  the  Modern  houses  are  built  wth 
the  Gable  End  to  the  Street  as  was  formerly  the 
fashion  amongst  all  the  old  Dutch  Settlers,  but  are 

[  43   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

many  of  'em  Spacious  Genteel  houses  Some  are 
built  of  hewn  stone  Others  of  English  &  Also  of  the 
Small  white  Hollands  Brick,  which  looks  neat  but 
not  grand,  their  houses  are  Generally  neat  within 
and  well  Furnished,  Notwithstanding  there  Still  re 
mains  too  many  of  the  Old  Dutch  houses  which  pre 
vents  its  Appearing  to  Advantage,  The  Streets  (as 
above)  are  very  Irregular  &  Crooked  &  many  of  'em 
much  too  Narrow  they  are  Generally  pretty  well 
paved  which  adds  much  to  the  decency  &  Clean-ness 
of  the  place  &  the  Advantage  of  Carriage,  The 
Water  in  the  Pumps  &  Springs  here  is  a  little  of  the 
Brackish  tast  They  fetch  the  Water  all  without  the 
Gate  that  they  use  for  Tea  &C  &  several  people  get 
their  Living  by  carting  of  it  into  town  where  they 
Sell  it  by  the  pale  &C* 

Octoe29th  Their  Publick  Buildings  are;  first  the  City  Hall 
a  large  Strong  Stone  Building  the  lower  part  is 
Seemingly  intended  for  a  Change  to  meet  in,  as  it 
Stands  all  upon  Arches  and  is  Open  like  a  Market 
house;  Above  Stairs  are  Apartmts  for  the  Gove 
Councell  &  Assembly  to  meet  in,  And  make  Laws 
for  the  good  of  the  province,  there  Also  is  Other 
Rooms  for  the  Courts  of  Justice  to  Sit  in,  and  Order 
these  Laws  to  be  put  in  due  force  &  Execution  And 
in  Order  to  make  the  Most  of  this  Building  they 
Have  converted  the  Garratts  into  a  prison  for  Drs 
&  fellons  a  Comfortable  place  Say,  take  it  through 
out;  the  Goveshouse  is  in  fort  George  and  makes  a 
Good  apearance  at  a  distance  there  was  a  Church 
of  England  Chapell  within  this  fort  but  was  burnt 

[44  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

down  in  the  time  of  their  Negro  plot,  This  fort  is  175° 
well  Scituated  to  maul  the  Ships  as  they  come  up 
being  very  low,  And  close  by  it  to  the  East  ward  is  a 
fine  battery  which  mounts  a  great  Number  of  Guns 
almost  Even  with  the  water's  edge;  There  is  also  five  - 
Market  houses  fixed  at  proper  distances  from  the 
water  Side  &  from  One  Another,  Only  three  of  them 
is  much  frequented,  And  I  am  of  Opinion  if  they 
were  all  Fixed  in  one  place  it  would  be  much  the  best ; 
Here  are  two  Episcopal  Churches,  which  are  Large 
&  Strong  Buildings  of  Hewn  Stone,  and  as  it  must 
be  Allowd  to  be  the  most  fashionable  religion,  So  it 
Seems  to  me  here  as  well  as  in  most  other  parts  of 
North  America  to  Prevail  here  is  also  Four  Dutch 
Churches  Two  of  the  Lutheran  the  Other  of  the 
Calvinistical  Order,  All  which  are  Large,  &  for 
merly  were  very  much  crowded  but  many  of  the 
young  People  fall  of  to  the  National  form;  As  do 
the  young  people  in  General  from  the  French  Church 
which  now  has  but  a  Small  Congregation,  Here  is 
also  A  Presbyterian  Meeting  house  which  is  Large, 
and  has  great  number  of  that  Society  which  frequents 
the  Same,  and  duly  attend  their  prayers,  Lectures 
&C  3  times  every  Sabath  day;  One  Jews  Synagogue, 
And  one  meeting  of  Friends  which  is  but  small  their 
Meetinghouse  is  of  Brick  which  is  neat,  built  about 
Two  years  ago,  i  Moravian  &  i  Whitfield  mg  d° 
but  both  in  private  houses 

The  People  here  are  very  gay  in  their  dress  but 
more  perticularly  in  the  furniture  of  their  houses 
&C  They  have  of  Late  a  very  Extensive  trade  to 

[  45   1 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

the  Bay  of  Honduras  for  Log  wood  which  has  been 
of  great  Service  to  the  Place  in  making  their  Euro- 
pian  Remittances  for  dry  goods  &C*  which  without 
this  trade  puzles  them  a  good  deal  when  bills  are 
Scarce 

They  have  also  An  Extensive  trade  to  the  West- 
indies  &Ca  As,  Jamaica  S*  Thomas,  Santa  Cruz, 
Surrinam,  Curiacoa,  in  A  perticular  manner,  As 
Also  in  a  lesser  degree  to  Antigua  Barbados,  St 
Kitts  &C*  For  Bread,  Flour,  Pork,  Beefe,  Horses, 
Lumber,  of  Sundry  sorts  as  Boards,  Plank,  Joists, 
Staves  &  Heading,  Shingles  Hoops,  &  Ranging 
Timber 

They  also  Build  many  vessels  here  of  all  Sizes, 
And  are  well  Supply'd  with  Timber  from  the  Jer 
seys  from  Long  Island  And  also  from  Statten 
Island  which  I  believe  to  be  the  Best  in  this  part  of 
the  Country  as  it  grows  near  the  Sea  and  upon  a 
Clay  Soil 

I  would  likewise  observe  that  the  Trade  of  the 

Jerseys  is  pretty  much  divided  between,  New  York 

and  Philadelphia,  the  which  is  a  great  Advantage  to 

Both;  The  Yorkers  draw  a  Great  quantity  of  Bread 

1750         Flour,  and  wheat,  yearly  from  the  Jerseys  by  way 

Octoe29th    Qf   Amboy,    and    down    Rariton    river    by   way    of 

Brunswick  there  being  a  very  good  Corn  Cuntry  up 

that  river 

This  City  also  reaps  great  Advantages  by  the 
Navigation  of  the  North  or  Hudsons  river,  As  the 
City  of  Albany  lyes  so  Near  the  Indians  that  it 

[  46  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 


Enables  them  to  Gary  on  the  furr  Trade  to  greater 
Advantage  then  Any  other  Province  in  America, 
And  helps  them  in  their  Remittances  to  England 

About  Ten  o'Clock  this  day  I  left  New  York 
And  took  the  ferry  boat  for  Staten  Island  Com 
monly  caled  Combe's  Ferry  we  were  Becalmed  upon 
the  water  And  Expected  toVe  been  driven  back  to 
N :  Y  by  the  floodtide  however  we  got  over  very  well 
About  one  o'Clock  and  went  to  Vantiles's  Tavern 
being  Reckon'd  9  Miles  from  N  York  We  dined 
upon  Oisters  Roasted  &  Raw  and  had  some  Good 
Madeira 

From  Vantiles  to  Elizabeth  town  point  is  6  miles 
we  crossed  the  Sound  here  that  Seperates  Staten 
Island  from  the  Main  Land  of  the  Jerseys  into 
which  enter  by  Crossing  this  ferry  3  miles  further 
brought  us  to  the  Burrough  of  Eliza  town,  This  is 
a  good  inland  town,  but  no  manner  of  Regularity  in 
the  Streets  or  houses  being  built  in  the  Nature  of  a 
Good  large  Village  with  Some  tollerable  good 
houses,  They  have  a  Mayor  Alderman  Recorder 
&C:  Councel  from  this  Town  to  Woodbridge  is  12 
Miles  this  is  a  good  large  Country  Town  and  Built 
Irregularly  Much  like  Elizabeth  Town,  3  Miles  fur 
ther  brought  me  to  the  Antient  City  of  Amboy  (als) 
Perth  Amboy  I  Lodged  at  the  Widdow  Serjeants 
which  is  the  best  if  not  the  Only  Tavern  in  the  place, 
This  day  being  the  Kings  birthday  About  a  dozen 
Gentlemen  met  at  my  lodgings  to  Spend  the  Even 
ing  to  wit,  John  Richard  &  Campbell  Stevens  Dr 
Johnson  John  Minikey,  John  McKivers  Andrew 

[  47   ] 


Octoe  30 


Octoe  30th 
1750 


Octoe  30th 
1750 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

Smyth  &Ca  we  Spent  the  Evening  very  agreeably 
only  Sat  up  a  little  too  late 

They  have  here  a  Mayor,  Alderman,  Recorder 
And  Common  councel  men  for  the  order  &  Regu 
lation  of  the  City 

The  Gove  Councell  &  Assembly  of  the  Jerseys 
Meet  here  and  at  Burlington  Alternately,  They 
have  here  a  Courthouse,  a  Goal,  An  Episcopal 
Church  A  Presbyterian  Meeting  house  &  And  a 
pretty  market  house  but  believe  but  little  use  for  it; 
I  do  imagine  the  Plan  of  this  City  has  been  laid 
out  very  regular  by  the  Appearance  of  Some  part  of 
it  but  being  So  thin  Built  and  the  houses  and  Gar 
dens  &C  So  intersperst  that  its  hard  for  a  Stranger 
to  form  a  Notion  how  the  Streets  ought  to  run, 
however  the  Houses  that  are  Built  are  tollerable 
good  and  I  imagine  about  70  or  80  in  Number 
Octoe  30  'phjg  cjtv  is  b^  Up0n  a  Neck  of  land  that  lyes 


between  Rariton  river  and  the  Sound  that  Parts 
Statten  Island  from  this  place;  here  is  a  fine  Har 
bour  And  water  enough  Up  to  the  Bank  Side, 
Wharfs  may  be  here  built  with  great  care  and  very 
little  Charge,  this  Place  is  finely  Scituate  for  trade, 
as  it  is  so  near  the  Sea,  Water  Enough  at  all  times 
to  come  up  to  the  town,  The  Sound  on  one  Side  of 
the  town  and  Rariton  river  on  the  Other  which  is 
Navigable  12  Miles  up  to  the  City  of  Brunswick; 
Yet  by  the  want  of  People  of  Fortune  and  Spirit  to 
carry  on  trade  the  Place  is  poor  And  I  am  of  Opinion 
will  remain  So  as  they  are  Remarkable  for  their 
Laziness  &  the  Oppulent  City  of  NYork  so  near 

[  48  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

them  that  the  greatest  part  of  the  trade  centers 
there,  The  People  of  this  City  now  and  then  Send 
a  vessel  to  the  west  Indies  And  to  Lisbon  or  Madeira 
wth  wheat  but  not  often,  They  also  build  vessels  here 
for  wch  I  think  tis  an  Extraordinary  good  Scituation, 
for  they  have  plenty  of  Timber  near  them  not  only 
in  the  Jerseys,  but  also  on  Staten  Island  &  I  take  the 
wood  hereabouts  to  be  as  good  or  Better  than  Any 

thats  farther  up  the  Country  as  its  near  the  Sea     Octo  30th 

1750 

Winds,  and  upon  a  Clay  Soil  And  farther  A  great 
privaledge  or  Benefit  is  that  they  may  thoroughly 
Soak  the  plank  and  timbers  in  the  Sea  water 

The  Soil  here  Seems  to  Me  to  be  but  very  poor 
further  inland  is  much  better  for  Grass  or  Grain 

This  morning  Set  out  for  Brunswick  which  is  12 
Miles  and  Stands  upon  the  River  Rariton  which 
Crossd  at  the  Ferry  And  dined  there,  Called  to  See 
Doctor  Messer  who  lives  here  and  very  well,  This 
City  is  Small,  but  pretty  well  built,  They  have  Small 
craft  that  comes  up  here  with  the  flood  tide  but  the 
river  other  ways  is  fordable  and  a  great  many  banks 
and  Shoals  in  it,  They  build  Some  Sloops  and  Small 
vessels  here  from  Brunswick  I  went  to  a  Small  Vil 
lage  Called  Kingston  15  Miles  &  from  thence  to 
Prince  Town  3  Miles  Where  I  lodged  at  one  Sam: 
Homers  at  the  Union  Flag,  A  very  good  Country 
House  and  Good  Accomodans  From  this  little 
Country  Town  you  Have  A  noble  Prospect  (as  any 
I  met  with  in  America)  towars  Egg  Harbr  Burling 
ton  &  Trenton  Also  to  the  Northward  along  way  up 

[  49  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 


1750 
Octoe  31st 

Novr  1st 


2d 


1750 
Novr  2d 


3d 
4 
7 


Rariton  river  And  in  the  whole  over  a  large  Extent 
of  land 

Set  forward  this  Morning  and  by  10  o'Clock 
reached  Trenton  being  12  Miles  (Rained  all  the 
way)  And  breakfasted  at  Elisha  Bonds  who  came 
from  Near  Lancaster  (I  think  from  Cockram)  And 
his  wife  from  Warrington,  as  it  rain'd  I  staid  and 
dined  here  this  is  a  Pretty  Small  Town  that  lyes 
About  a  Mile  from  the  river  Delaware  where  we 
cross  it  at  the  ferry  Called  Trenton  ferry  this  is  the 
Extent  of  the  Navigation  of  the  river  Above  which 
we  See  many  Rocks  above  water  So  that  tis  Impos- 
ible  for  a  Boat  to  Pass  them  After  dinner  I  crossed 
Trenton  ferry  Entered  Pensilvania  and  Travell'd 
thro  the  Manner  of  Pensburry  which  is  mostly  in 
woods  to  Bristol  City  which  is  20  Miles  where  I 
Lodged  at  a  tolerable  house,  Not  near  so  good  as 
Elisha  Bonds  my  Countryman 

Set  forward  this  Morning  at  8  o'Clock  To  Nesha- 
mony  ferry  3  miles  to  -  Frankford  a  Small  village 
12   Miles  To  Philadelphia   5    Miles  was  there  by 
twelve  o'Clock  or  I  believe  half  an  Hour  Sooner, 
dined  at  John  Biddies  at  the  Sign  of  the  Indian  King 
in  Market  Street,  from  whence  in  the  afternoon  I 
proceeded  to  Ben  Bagnalls  in  front  Street  with  my 
fr'd  Geo  Mifflin  where  I  took  Lodgings 
I  dined  with  Geo :  Mifflin  Senr 
Dined  at  home  5  D°  6th  at  Jn°  Bringhams 
At  home  Rode  in  the  Afternoon  wthG :  M  And 
B :  B  to  see  Rob1  Hopkin's  Grass 
At  Point  No  point 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

At  home  Sent  Yorkshire  wththe  2  horses  to  R.  8 

Hopkins  to  Grass 

At  home  &  Walked  in  the   afternoon  to   Colt-         9th 
house's  ferry  on  Schuykill  being  two  miles 

At  home  IIth  at  home  10th 

Dined  at  I:  Pemberton  jrs  13th  at  home  12 

At  home  took  a  Purge  15th  at  D°  not  well  14 

Dined  with  John  Meas.  17th  at  home  16 

At  home.  19^  at  DO  2Oth  Dined  wth  Jn<>  Reynells          18 
Dined  with  John  Smith 
Dined  with  Will™  Logan  23^  At  home 
At  home  25^  at  DO  26th  at  DO  24 

At  home  28th  at  DO  Much  Rain 

At  home  3Oth  at  DO  29 

At  home  2<*  at  D°  3^  at  D° —  Decr  lst 

Dined  with  Isaac  Greenleafe  4th 

At  home  6th  at  DO  7th  at  DO  1750 

At  home  9th  at  DO  ioth  at  DO  and  I  Ordered  my 
roan  horse  from  Grass  &  Sent  him  to  Stable  at  the  8 

Indian  Queen 

I  Borrowd  la  Pembertons  horse  and  I  went  wth  n 
Israel  Pemberton  jr  to  the  funeral  of  Reginere 
Tyson  at  Abington  being  1 2  miles  Thence  to  Dunk's 
ferry  upon  Delaware  14  Miles  which  we  Crossd 
And  Rode  to  Burlington  wch  is  3  Miles  Lodged  wth 
Charles  Read 

we  Breakfasted  wth  Cha.  Read  and  dined  with          12 
Ebenezar  Large  where  also  dined  Mary  Weston  fro 
London   Margt  Bound   from  New  York  &   Peter 
Fearon  With  Sundry  others 

Burlington   is   the   Chief   City   or  metropolis   of 

[  51  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

West  Jersey  And  is  Scituate  upon  the  river  Dela 
ware  Consisting  of  one  Spacious  large  Street  that 
runs  down  to  the  river  which  makes  a  fine  prospect 
into  Pensilvania  with  Several  Short  cross  Streets 
that  Terminate  in  this  Principal  one,  here  are  tol- 
lerable  good  Buildings  And  the  Land  and  Country 
about  it  very  good  and  Level  the  Abound  wth  fine 
1750  Orchards  and  Gardens,  &Ca  They  have  a  good 

Deer  12th      ^^  here  ^  pidded  porke  And  Hams  which  the 

Send  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia  for  Exportation  to 
the  West  Indies,  Publick  buildings  are  A  court  house 
for  the  Councell  And  Assembly,  underneath  which 
is  a  Goal  this  Edifice  looks  old  &  makes  but  a  Poor 
figure  Considering  the  Advantageous  Scituation 
being  built  in  this  fine  Open  street  there  is  Also  An 
Episcopal  Church  and  two  friends  Meeting  houses 
This  Afternoon  Returnd  back  over  Dunk's  ferry 
to  Philadelphia  wch  is  20  Miles  in  Compa  wth  sd  M 
Weston  Margaret  Bownd  Sam1  Bowne  Is:  Green- 
leafe  I:  Pemberton  jr  &Ca 

13  Dined  at  John  Mifflins  and  walk<*  in  the  After 
noon  to  Schuykill 

14  At  home  went  in  the  Afternoon  over  the  ferry  to 
the  Jerseys  in  compa  wth  G  Mifflin  jr  &  B:  Bagnall 
And  returned  in  the  Evening 

15  At  home  i6th  at  home  Hard  frost 

17  At  home  i8th  at  D°  writing  letters  frosty 

19  At  home  20  at  D°  2ist  at  home  Rain,  Snow,  And 

1750  violent  wind 
Decr22d          At   home   all   day,    Snow,    DO   Sent    P   Bard   to 

[  52   ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Antigua  2  half  bushels,  bees  wax,  2  Rounds  beefe 

And  3  hats 

At  home  Drink't  tea  wth  Jn«  Reynells  23d 

At  home  a  Pleasant  day  25thDined  with  Thomas          24 
Hatton  &  Cap*  Phillips 

At  home  Rained  all  day  26 

At  home  and  hard  frost  27 

At  home  Hard  frost  and  very  Cold 
At  home  Hard  frost,  the  Ice  So  strong  as  to  bear 
over  the  river,  The  Coldest  day  that  has  been  for 
many  years 

At  home  30 

Set  out  for  Mary  Land  in  Company  with  Mary  31st 
Weston,  Easter  White,  la :  Pemberton  Israel  Pem- 
berton  jr  Wm  Logan  And  Sundry  others  to  the  lower 
ferry  on  Schuylkill  is  3  miles  thence  to  Darby  5  miles 
And  to  Chester  8  miles  where  we  dined  at  the  Wid- 
dow  Lloyds  this  town  Stands  upon  the  rive  Dela 
ware  And  one  Might  Imagine  well  Scituate  for  trade 
but  I  could  not  Perceive  the  least  traces  of  any  thing 
of  the  kind  it  is  the  Metropolis  of  the  County  and 
has  courts  of  Judicature  held  there  I  do  not  See  its 
Remarkable  for  any  thing  Else;  from  Chester  to 
Brandy  Wine  toll  Bridge  14  Miles  to  Wilming 
ton  3  Miles  we  lodged  at  One  Ganthonys  This  175° 

rp  u    •          u    /         r  Deer  31st 

1  own    is    a    very    modern    one    being    but    a    few 

years  Since  it  was  first  laid  out  &  built  all  the  houses 
being  new  &  built  of  Brick,  is  in  a  very  good  coun 
try  for  Wheat  and  flour,  Abundance  of  which  is 
brought  here  for  Sale  the  Greatest  part  of  which  is 
sent  up  to  Philada  in  Shallops,  and  a  part  Shipt  by 

[  53  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

the  Inhabitants  for  the  Westindies  but  the  Inhabi 
tants  being  many  of  them  in  low  Circumstances  can 
not  make  any  great  figure  in  trade  this  town  lyes 
about  2  or  3  miles  from  the  River  Delaware  on  a 
Creek  Called  Christeen  Creek  but  have  water 
enough  for  good  vessels  up  to  their  Wharfs  where 
they  may  load  or  discharge 

jane  1st  This  Morning  we  set  out  and  got  to  Ogletown 
12  Miles  (Near  this  place  we  Enter  Cecil  County 
in  Maryland)  where  we  dined,  from  thence  to  the 
Head  of  Elke  river  9  Miles,  Thence  by  the  head  of 
North  East  And  Principio  Iron  works  to  Susque- 
hannah  ferry  is  15  Miles,  where  we  lodged  at  the 
ferry  house  &  Good  Entertainm* 

1750-1  This  morning  we  passed  the  Great  river  Susque- 

hannah  upon  the  Ice,  the  river  here  is  deemd  3  miles 
over,  the  horses  were  led  over  before  us  and  we 
followed  on  foot  only  the  two  women  had  each  a 
Ladder  laid  down  upon  the  Ice  and  there  baggage 
thereon,  upon  wch  they  Sat  down  and  were  drawn 
over  by  2  Men;  who  Slipt  of  their  shoes  and  run  so 
fast  that  we  could  not  keep  way  with  them,  This 
ferry  is  Just  at  the  head  of  Chesapeak  bay,  from 
whence  we  Proceeded  to  Jacob  Giles's  in  Baltimore 
County  3  Miles  where  we  dined,  And  in  the  After 
noon  we  went  to  Wm  Coxes  at  Rock  run  Thro'  large 
tall  woods  all  the  way  (Except  Some  very  small 
Plantations  being  6  miles  where  we  Lodged 
3d  From  Wm  Coxes  we  went  to  dear  creek  to  A 

Meets  and  Called  by  the  way  at  An  Iron  forge 

[  54  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

which  is  large  and  Extreemly  well  fitted,  they  work 
three  fires  which  are  at  a  good  distance  from  One 
Another,  and  the  roofe  being  raised  very  high,  they 
must  be  well  adapted  for  that  hot  Country  in  the 
Summer  Season  here  the  work  2  hammers  one  for 
the  Chaffry  and  one  for  the  Two  finerys  one  of  wch  175i 
is  Blown  by  a  pair  of  wooden  Bellows  that  are  fixed  ^ane 
with  Springs  within  but  I  cannot  describe  the  Nature 
of  the  working,  with  Pen  and  Ink,  only  the  may  be 
Observed  they  are  of  the  Same  Shape  and  the  Bellow 
boards  and  Harness  the  Same  to  a  trifle  as  those 

done  with  Leather from  Coxe's  to  dearcreek  is 

5  miles  we  dined  at  our  friend  James  Rigbys  and  in 
the  afternoon  travelld  through  the  woods  to  James 
Lees  is  5  miles  where  we  lodged 

This  Morning  we  rode  from  Jas  Lees  to  Bush  4th 
river  meetg  12  Miles,  Thro'.  Wood,  and  very  un- 
eaven  Ground,  hard  frost  &  Snow  upon  the  Ground, 
The  woods  here  Abouts  are  the  Tallest  I  see  any 
where  in  North  America,  And  I  believe  the  Soil  is 
very  good  but  very  little  of  it  Cleared;  here  I  met 
Stephen  Onion  Esqr  who  I  had  Corosponded  wth 
Several  years,  And  went  with  him  to  his  house  9 
Miles  to  Gun  powder  Ironworks  where  I  lodged, 
he  lives  very  Genteely  And  has  Close  by  his  house  2 
Iron  forges  An  Iron  Furnace  a  Grist  mill  and  A 
Large  Smiths  Shop  where  all  Kinds  of  Black  work 
is  done  And  a  Saw  Mill  for  Boards  or  any  other  175° 
Kind  of  Timber  for  the  use  of  his  works,  he  has  ^ane 
here  plenty  of  water  and  a  Good  head  and  his 
dam  is  very  large  and  at  the  Same  time  not  above 

[  55   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

100  yards  from  the  forge,  he  has  dug  a  Channel 
through  a  Rock  that  brings  the  Water  out  of 
the  upper  dam  to  both  forges  and  the  furnace  is 
ah*  200  yards  below  the  forges  his  Iron  mines  are 
Just  by  his  works,  and  for  wood  it  Abounds  in  this 
County  as  I  observed  before,  very  little  Clear'd 
ground  to  be  met  with,  I  here  See  a  pair  of  wooden 
Bellows  open  and  had  an  Opertunity  to  view  them 
more  Satisfactorily  then  those  wch  were  at  work  at 
Dear  Creek  forge  the  Shell  or  rim  of  the  upper 
bellowboard  Slides  over  the  lower  one,  as  the  upper 
part  of  a  Box  goes  down  upon  the  Bottom  part  and 
there  is  a  great  number  of  Short  Square  peices  of 
Wood  which  are  Shoulded  one  upon  Another  and 
kept  close  together  with  Springs  to  prevent  the 
Air's  Escaping  between  the  upper  And  lower  part 
that  Slides  over  each  other. 

upper  And  lower  part  that  Slides  over  each  other. 
1751  This  day  came  from  Isaac  Websters  Several  of 

our  Company  &  Dined  at  Stephen  Onions,  after 
which  MW  E.W.  John  Giles  &C  Set  out  for  the 
river  of  Potomack  and  Virginia  &  about  4  o'Clock 
and  hard  frost  I.  P.  And  Self  set  our  for  Jacob 
Giles's  by  way  of  Joppa  to  Bush  river  lands  8  Miles 
where  there  is  a  very  good  furnace,  but  being  dark 
we  had  not  an  Opportunity  of  viewing  the  Same  we 
baited  here  and  then  rode  to  Jacob  Giles's  12  Miles 
where  got  about  9  at  night  and  was  very  kindly 
reced  I  observe  in  all  this  County  the  Country  is 
mighty  uneven,  And  quick  rising  &  falling,  in  the 
road,  and  the  Country  all  Cloathed  with  tall  timber 

[  56] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

trees  of  different  Species,  the  largest  &  talest  kind  I 
observed  the  call  a  tulep  tree,  barkd  very  much  like 
an  oak  but  Something  of  a  dead  flower  remains  upon 
the  Branches  all  the  Winter,  which  in  Some  sort 
resembles  a  tulep,  And  Appears  at  A  distance  to  be 
a  flower  in  full  bloom  this  wood  makes  good  boards 
for  the  Inside  work  of  a  house  being  very  white  and 
free  from  knots,  but  at  the  Same  time  very  Soft  and 
Spungy 

here  are  few  plantations  Clear'd  &  those  very  small 
There  houses  in  General  very  bad  and  ill  contrived 
there  furniture  mean;  there  Cooks  and  houswifry 
worse  if  possible  Except  at  S:  O.  And  J:  G.  where 
we  were  Genteely  Entertaind  both  as  to  Eating, 
drinking,  And  Lodging 

I.  Pemberton  &  Self  Set  out  this  Morning  for  Jane  6th 
Philadelphia  (hard  frost  and  has  been  all  this  week) 
and  came  to  Susquehannah  river  3  miles  where 
crossed  the  Same  upon  the  Ice  which  is  called  3 
Miles  More,  hence  to  Principio  Ironworks  is  5 
Miles,  These  were  the  first  works  in  the  Country 
as  the  name  denotes,  hence  to  North  East  Iron 
Works  is  2  Miles  where  we  called  and  baited  with 
the  Chiefe  Manager,  One  Baxter  who  is  in  the 
Commission  of  the  Peace,  and  has  the  direction  of 
these  &  Principio  works  they  belong  to  a  Company 
in  Londn  and  are  Esteemd  to  make  the  best  Iron 
And  they  Certainly  have  the  best  workmen  in  Amer 
ica  but  I  observe  they  all  Employ  many  negros  in 
their  works,  these  works  as  will  as  those  on  the  other 
side  of  Susquehannah  are  very  large  and  comodius; 

[  57  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

hence  to  the  Head  of  Elk  river  8  miles  to  Ogletown 
9  miles  dined  at  Ogles  the  proprer  who  keeps  a 
tollerable  good  tavern,  the  Ground  here  begins  to 
be  more  generally  Clear'd,  and  Appears  to  be  pretty 
good,  Hence  to  Wilmington  is  12  Miles  Lodged 
wth  David  Farris  had  our  horses  at  Jos :  Littlers, 
And  Snow'd  all  the  way  from  'Sque  Baxters 

Jane  7  Staid  at  Willmington,  Snowed  all  the  day,  Went 

to  See  B :  Shipley  &  my  old  Acquaintance  Rot  Rich 
ardson  Israel  Pemberton  left  me  ye  morn'g  &  rode 
home — 

Jane  8th          Set  forward  (deep  Snow)  from  hence  to  Brandy- 
wine  Tolbridge  3  Miles  to  Chester  14  Miles  where  I 

1750-1  dined  at  a  very  good  house  And  had  Some  MulH 
Cyder  to  Keep  up  our  Spirits,  very  Cold,  from 
Chester  I  got  next  to  Schuylkill  ferry  (by  way  of 
Darby  a  very  good  village  in  the  way)  13  miles 
thence  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia  3  Miles  and  got  to 
my  lodgings  before  dark 

Do  9th  At  home  10  at  home  n  At  home 

12  Ben  Bagnall  &  Wife  T :  Bagnell  Geo  Mifflin  John 

Lacy  P.  Newbury  and  my  Self  went  in  two  Slays 
to  Germin  Town  being  6  miles  to  dinner  and  re 
turned  in  the  Even.g  in  40  Minutes  this  kind  of  trav 
eling  is  only  whilst  the  Snow  continues  upon  the 
Ground,  as  they  have  no  wheels  but  only  Stands  upon 
two  pieces  of  wood  that  Lyes  flat  on  the  Ground 
like  a  North  of  England  Sled,  the  fore  part  turning 
up  with  a  bent  to  Slyde  over  Stones  or  any  little 
rising  and  are  Shod  with  Smooth  Plates  of  Iron  to 
prevent  their  wearing  Away  too  fast.  .  .  . 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

The  Sides  of  this  Machine  are  boarded  up  about  1751 
1 8  Inches  high  &  the  Ends  Much  higher  with  one  Jane  12th 
seat  forward  and  the  other  behind,  each  holds  two 
persons  compleat  as  a  Coach  the  2  horses  are  Har- 
nessd  in  the  same  manner  as  for  a  Wheel  carriage 
abating  for  the  goodness,  and  a  pole  from  the  fore 
part  lyes  between  the  horses  as  in  a  Charrot,  the 
driver  Stands  right  up  in  the  forepart  of  the  Slay 
and  goes  at  a  prodigeous  Speed,  All  Ranks  of  peo 
ple  Covet  this  kind  of  Traveling  or  divertion  for 
whilst  the  Snow  lyes  upon  the  ground  all  the  Carters 
or  dray  men  lay  all  other  business  aside  And  Stand 
as  regularly  at  proper  places  to  be  hired  (as  the 
Hackney  Coaches  do  in  London)  to  go  to  the 
Neighbouring  villages  there  to  Eat,  drink  &  return 
in  the  Evens  &  Some  later  enough  at  Night 

At  home  begun  to  thaw  very  fast  and  raind  all         13th 
day,  and  towards  Eveng  the  Ice  in  the  River  begun 
to  break 

At  home  15^  at  DO  i6*h  at  D°  rainy  Weather  175°-1 

17th  I  dined  at  John  Mifflins 

1 8  I  dined  at  George  Mifflins  Senr 

At  Home  2O*h  at  D°  2i*t  at  DO  19th 

At  home  &  We  had  the  Most  violent  gale  of  wind 
at  S°  and  S&BW  which  some  one  Brig,  at  the  Wharfe 
very  much  damaged  another,  And  indeed  several 
vessels  And  houses  Suffered  greatly,  the  top  of  the 
Wind  mill  Aposite  to  the  town  blown  of,  And  its 
said  there  has  not  been  so  much  damage  reced  here 
the  many  years 

[  59  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

23d  At  home  Spent  the  evening  wth  Jos  Saunders 

24th  At  home  25^  at  DO  Walked  to  Colthouse's 

26th  At  home  27th  at  D°  28th  at  home  had  a  Coat  & 

Breeches  made  by  I.  Fullerton 

29th  i  Went  to  the  Superior  Court  held  at  the  State 
house  when  there  was  brought  before  the  Court 
upon  an  Indictement  for  house  breaking  And  Acces- 
sorys  John  Morris  Eliza  Robinson  Jn°  Crow 
Francis  McCoy  and  his  wife  And  John  Stinson,  be 
fore  Chiefe  Justice  Allen  &  Judge John 

1750-1  Morris  Pleaded  Guilty,  M^Coy  and  his  Wife 
Jane  29th  Robinson  Crow  &  Stinson  Pleaded  not  Guilty,  A 
lad  from  Maryland  (who  followed  this  Robinson 
from  thence  hearing  She  was  in  Goal  here  last  year 
And  bound  himself  Printice  to  raise  some  money  to 
procure  her  freedom,  &  then  She  and  he  with  others, 
was  to  Steal  to  raise  Money  to  buy  his  time  out)  one 
Turner  by  name  being  also  taken  up  one  of  the  first 
of  the  Gang  &  Examd  turn'd  Kings  Evidence  agst 
all  the  rest  And  was  the  Most  Material  witness 
against  them  And  after  a  tryall  of  Near  9  hours  the 
Jury  bro*,  in  McCoy,  Robinson  &  Crow  Guilty 
Accords  to  the  Indictmt  As  Accesarys  before  the 
fact  Commited  Stinson  Guilty  as  an  Accessary  after 
the  fact  committed  by  Consealing  Morris  in  his 
house  wh  Search  was  made  for  him  by  the  proper 
offecers,  and  a  reward  of  £60  offerd  for  the  Apre- 
hending  of  him,  McCoy's  Wife  not  Guilty,  As  acting 
under  the  Coersive  power  of  her  husband 
1750-1  I  Was  in  Court  when  Morris  Robinson  Crow  And 

jane  30th  ^   McCoy  rece<*  Sentence  of  death  Stinson  was  brought 

[   60   ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

in  Guilty  but  he  Pleading  a  Certain  Act  which  is 
Equall  to  the  Benefit  of  the  Clergy  was  only  burnt  in 
the  hand,  and  that  Moderately  enough,  And  orderd 
to  give  Security  for  twelve  months  And  the  for 
feiture  of  all  his  goods  and  Chattels 

I  dined  with  John  Meas  31st 

I  dined  with  John  Bringhurst  Febyr  lst 

At  home  Wrote  to  Sundrys  P  Mitchel  at  Lond:  2d 

At  home  dined  With  Jos:  Crosby 

At  home  at  Qty  Meetg  5*  At  home  &C*  4th 

At  home  7th  Dined  wth  Tho  Hatton  and  at  Cap1 
T.  Phillips  in  ye  Afternoon 
At  home 

Dined  at  home  in  the  Afternoon  John  Pickering 
jr  &  Self  went  home  with  Owen  Evans  Esqr  to 
Northwales  being  20  Miles  which  we  Rode  in  3h 

25™ 

We  went  to  N°Wales  Meeting 

Continued  wth  O :  E  being  a  Stormy  day 

From  O:  Evans  we  Called  at  J:  Evans  So  to 
German  Town  And  home  Owen  Evans  with  us 

I  this  day  dined  wth  Is:  Pemberton  Sen'  &  My  175(Kl 
old  Acquaintance  Jonah  Thompson  And  this  day 
were  Executed  on  the  Common  John  Morris,  Fr: 
McCoy  &  Eliza  Robinson;  John  Crow  was  Re 
prieved  under  the  Gallows  &  this  Evening  Cap*  John 
Lacy  of  Whitby  Sailed  hence  for  Virginia 

At  home  &  M.g  Dined  wth  Wm  Logan  14th 

At  home  Great  rain  &  Snow 

At  home  17  D«  &  at  M.g  16- 

At  home  Settling  Acc*s  wth  Sundrys  18 

[  61   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

19-  At  home DO 

20.  At  home DO 

21.  At  home  &  M.g 

22d  At  home  and  in  the  Evening  had  a  few  friends  at 

the  Coffee  ho 

23d  At  home  &  Dined  wth  Is:  Pemberton  jr 

24  At  home  And  At  M.g,  And  now  According  to  My 

former  Method  I  shall  Proceed  to  Say  Somthing 
of  the  Province  of  Pensilvania  &  City  of  Philadel- 
phea  before  before  My  Departure  for  N :  York 

1750-1  PENSILVANIA  is  one  of  the  most  considerable 
3by  24th  of  the  Northern  Colonies  William  Pen  Esqr  Son 
of  Sr  WmPen  obtained  the  Grant  for  this  Province 
in  1679  and  gave  it  the  Name  of  Pensilvania  by 
which  name  it  is  called  in  the  Original  Patent  from 
King  Charles  the  2d  dated  the  4th  March  1680  And 
Contains  a  tract  of  Land  lying  between  the  begin 
ning  of  the  4Oth  43d  degree  of  North  Latd  and 
bounded  by  the  River  Delaware  to  the  East  which 
Separated  this  Province  from  NJersey,  To  the 
North  by  the  Indian  Nations  to  the  west  &  South  by 
Maryland  and  the  Sea ;  This  Province  has  In 
creased  more  in  its  Inhabitants  then  Any  of  its 
Neighbours,  Owing  to  the  Number  of  German  & 
Irish  Passengers  who  Anually  come  here  and  Settle 
with  their  wives  &  familys  often  4  or  5000  in  a  year 
Many  of  which  are  now  become  People  of  extensive 
fortunes,  both  in  the  Towns  and  likewise  in  the 
Country  after  the  first  grant  of  Pensilvania  which 
containd  the  three  uper  Counties  of  Buckingham, 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Philadelphia,  and  Chester,  By  King  Charles  the 
Second;  Pen  Obtaind  a  Another  Grant  from  the 
Duke  of  York  for  part  of  Nova  Belgia  or  the 
Province  of  New  York  which  lyes  between  Mary 
land  and  the  River  Delaware,  from  Marcus  Hook 
4  miles  below  Chester  along  the  river  120  Miles  & 
terminates  20  Miles  below  Henopen,  this  is  com 
puted  to  be  40  Miles  deep  between  the  Delaware  & 
Maryland  and  is  divided  into  the  3  lower  Counties 
Called  Newcastle,  Kent,  &  Sussex,  Notwithstanding 
they  have  but  one  Gove  over  the  whole,  yet  the  three 
lower  counties  have  their  own  Separate  councel  & 
Assembly,  make  their  own  Laws,  Their  own  Paper 
Currency  and  hold  their  own  Assemblys  at  New 
castle,  where  the  Gove  Attends  during  their  Delibera 
tions,  as  he  does  at  Philadelphia  for  the  3  upper 
Counties 

The  Gove  is  Apointed  by  the  Propriators  And  con 
firmed  by  the  King,  their  Assembly  is  Choose  Anu- 
ally  and  commonly  make  two  Sessions  or  Sittings 
(viz')  In  January  &  August  at  Philadelphia  I  do 
not  Know  w*  time  the  Assembly  for  the  Lower 
Countys  Sit  but  it  must  be  Some  part  of  the  Interval 
between  the  Sittings  at  Philadelphia  upon  Acco*  of  ye 
Gove  being  obliged  to  be  there 

PHILADELPHIA  is  the  Capital  of  the  Pro 
vince,  and  perhaps  one  of  the  best  Laid  out  Citys  in 
the  world  and  if  built  According  to  the  Plan  wod 
be  large  enough  for  the  Head  of  an  Empire  it  is  An 
Oblong  Square  Extending  betwist  two  Navigable 
rivers  the  Delaware  And  Schuylkill  two  miles  in 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

length  And  the  long  streets  9  in  Number  from  E*  to 
W*  between  river  &  River,  to  be  cut  at  Right  Angles 
by  others  of  one  Mile  in  Length  and  Twenty  in 
Number  fro.  N°  to  S°  all  Straight  as  a  Line  &  Spaci 
ous  But  as  the  first  Settlers  of  this  City  begun  upon 
the  Banks  of  Delaware 

1750-1        For  more  then  a  Mile  in  Length  they  have  not  been 
24th  Q  f  ar  Inland  between  the  tWQ  Riyers 


as  to  Come  Near  the  place  intended  for  the  Center 
of  the  City,  the  furthest  that  is  yet  Built  upon  is 
either  6th  or  7th  Street  from  Delaware  exclusive  of 
a  Certain  Street  built  between  Front  street  and  the 
River  called  water  Street  one  Side  of  which  is  mostly 
built  upon  ground  made  out  of  the  river  &  was  never 
Intended  in  the  Original  Plan  of  the  City  which  is 
well  Scituated  fore  Trade  Tis  about  one  Hundred  & 
twenty  Eight  miles  from  this  City  to  Cape  Henlopen 
or  Lewis  Town  and  very  good  Navigation  in  Gen 
eral,  tis  in  *most  places  6  or  7  fathom  in  the  Stream 
And  to  the  Wharfs  the  have  water  enough  for  Large 
Ships  to  load  &  unload  without  the  help  of  boats  or 
lighters,  the  river  here  is  three  quarters  of  a  Mile 
wide  And  has  Islands  in  it  Above  &  below  the  Town 
1750-1  There  is  belonging  to  this  town  a  great  Number  of 
Ships,  and  from  hence  a  very  Extensive  trade  is 
Carrd  on  to  all  the  English  Islands  in  the  west  Indies 
for  Bread,  Flour,  Porke,  Hams,  Indian  Corn,  Buck 
wheat  Oats,  Apples  &Ca,  Also  hogshead  &  Barrel 
Staves  &  heading  of  white  Oak  Esteem^  the  Best  in 
NAmerica,  Shingles,  Hoops,  Bar  Iron  &C.  also  live 

*  See  the  End  of  this  Itinerary 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

Stock  as  Sheep,  Geese,  Turkeys,  Ducks  &  fowles  in 
great  Plenty;  But  Some  of  their  Chief e  men  and 
Such  as  fill  the  Most  Stble  places  &  Posts  in  the 
Governmt  drive  on  a  very  large  &  Contraband 
Trade  with  the  French  at  Leogan,  the  cape,  &C  for 
Sugar  And  Molosses,  to  the  great  damage  of  the 
Honest  And  fair  Trader. 

They  have  also  a  good  trade  for  wheat,  Staves 
&C*,  to  Madeira,  Lisbon,  And  Several  parts  of 
Spain,  to  Say  Nothing  of  that  Extensive  trade  be 
tween  them  &  their  Mother  Country  for  Black  wall- 
nut  and  other  valuable  wood  of  different  kinds, 
Large  Qfys  of  Pig  and  Bar  Iron  and  that  of  an 
Excellent  Quality,  by  Encouragem*  large  quantitys 
of  Hemp  might  be  raised  here,  And  as  to  Flax  they 
raise  Abundance  it  is  Supposed  that  in  the  Article 
of  Flax-seed  Produced  in  this  province  the  receive 
from  Ireland  upwards  of  40,000  annually 

The  Publick  buildings  in  this  City  are,  first  the 
State  house  which  was  built  in  the  year  1732  and  is 
Esteem^  a  Grand  Eddifice  for  (besides  a  Lobby  in 
the  Center  the  Dementions  of  wch  is  40  by  20  feet) 
There  are  Two  rooms  of  40  feet  Square  and  30  feet 
high  (one  on  Each  Side  said  Lobby)  the  one  for  the 
Assembly,  the  Other  for  the  Supream  Court  or 
Grand  sessions  on  the  2d  floor  is  the  Councel  Cham 
ber  And  Committee  room,  And  a  Gallery  of  100 
feet  Long,  Adjoining  to  Wch  on  the  South  side  of 
the  Same  is  a  Large  Tower  &  Cupulo  wth  a  bell  in  it 

This  Bell  is  used  during  the  Sitting  of  the  Assem-        1750-1 
bly  to  Call  them  together  at  the  Same  hour—  Here    Feby24th 

[   65   ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

is  also  in  The  Broad  or  Market  street  a  Guild  or 
Town  hall,  where  the  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  are 
held,  and  also  the  City  Courts  &  Other  Publick 
bussiness  is  Transacted  And  under  which  is  a  Market 
house  and  upon  Other  days  Publick  vendues  are 
Carried  on  here;  Also  2  other  Publick  market  Places 
upon  Society  hill;  Likewise  a  very  large  building 
errected  by  Whitfield  and  his  followers  but  Sold  by 
them  and  now  Converted  into  An  Academy  for 
youth  in  the  different  branches  of  Learning  and  Suc 
ceeds  to  Admiration,  Likewise  the  Quakers  School 
house,  which  which  is  a  good  pile  of  Building,  The 
Quakers  Alms  house,  The  City  alms  house,  the 
Infirmary,  The  Hospital,  The  Goal  And  the  work 
house;  as  to  Places  of  Worship  there  is  the  Epis 
copal  Church  wch  is  large,  and  of  Late  has  reced 
the  Addition  of  a  Steeple,  and  Spire, 

1750-1  There  is  also  2  Quakers  Meets  houses  and  another 
Feby  24th  Building  upon  Society  hill,  2  Presbiterian  meeting 
houses,  One  Baptist  meeting  house,  one  dutch 
Calvinist  &  one  dutch  Lutheran  Church,  one 
Moravian  D°  one  Sweeds  Church,  And  one  of 
the  Methodist  or  Whitfieldians  which  was  built  by 
the  Charity  of  the  Inhabitants  and  has  the  noted  Gil 
bert  Tennant  for  their  Pastor;  one  Romish  Chap- 
pel,  which  I  believe  compleats  the  Number  of  Places 
of  worship,  Here  is  in  this  City  Some  Jews,  but  they 
are  not  allowed  any  Place  of  Public  Worship  as  not 
being  of  the  Christian  Profession 

In  the  year  1749  the  Houses  in  this  City  were 
Carefully  Numberd  And  found  to  Amount  to  2076 

[  66  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

By  which  it  Appears  to  be  the  Largest  City  in  our 
America  for  in  the  year  1746  by  an  Exact  Acc°  And 
that  upon  Path,  there  was  only  1760  Dwelling 
houses  in  Boston  and  in  New  York  in  the  year  1751 
there  was  2050  houses,  By  which  Accots  And 
Also  another  that  was  taken  at  Philad3  in  the 
year  1750  there  then  was  in  that  City  2100  dwell 
ing  houses,  And  the  greatest  part  of  them  built  of 
Brick  and  three  Storys  high,  and  well  Sashed,  So 
that  this  city  must  make  (take  it  upon  the  whole)  a 
very  good  figure,  and  only  wants  the  Streets  to  be 
Paved  to  make  it  appear  to  advantage,  for  there 
is  few  Towns  if  any  in  England  that  are  better 
Illumind  with  Lamps  &  those  of  the  best  Sort,  nor 
their  watch  better  regulated, 

*This  city  is  Governd  by  a  Mayr  Recorder  and  24 
aldermen  Common  Councell  men  And  other  of 
inferior  Officers  as  usual 

I  forgot  to  mention  a  very  good  Library  that  is 
well  Kept  in  the  left  wing  of  the  State  house,  and  in 
wch  is  a  large  Collection  of  Books  on  Different  Sub 
jects  which  are  Lent  out  by  the  Library  Keeper 
upon  a  Note  being  given  by  the  Borrower  to 
return  the  Book  in  a  Certain  time,  and  an  Ack 
nowledgment  to  the  Propriators  for  the  Use  of  it — 
Likewise  James  Logan  Built  in  his  lifetime  a  Library 
for  the  Reception  of  his  valuable  collection,  but  was 
not  Compleated  when  I  was  there 

German  Town  Seven  Miles  from  Philadelphia 
Consists  but  of  one  Street  and  is  Chiefly  inhabited 

*  See  the  latter  end  of  this  Itinerary 

[  67  ] 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

by  Germans,  'tis  near  2  Miles  long  &  carries  on 
a  very  great  Trade  in  Making  Stockings  &C  both  of 
thread  and  Woolen  yarn  wch  is  Milled  and  thereby 
made  very  warm  And  Suitable  to  their  weather 
Lancaster  I  am  informed  is  a  large  and  a  thriving 
town  Scituate  About  60  Miles  inLand  and  the 
Chiefe  part  of  the  Town  belongs  to  the  Present 
Gove  Ja  Hamilton  They  Produce  in  that  part 
abundance  of  Excellent  Wheat  flax  &C  &C  The 
Propriators  are  now  Thomas  &  Richard  Pen  Esqrs 
What  Improvmts  may  in  time  be  made  is  hardly  to 
be  guessd  at,  but  I  was  well  Informed  that  the  Anual 
income  is  Clear  £25000  Cash,  that  Curry,  or  up 
wards  of  £15,000  Sterg 

Notwithstanding  the  great  Numbers  of  Germans 
and  others  that  yearly  Arrive  and  Settle  in  this  Pro 
vince,  yet  in  many  places  the  ground  remains  unculti 
vated  &  Abundance  of  wood  land  remains  yet  un 
cleared;  Their  oak  timber  in  this  Governm*  Seems 
to  me  to  be  of  the  very  worse  Quality  of  Any  in 
America,  I  observe  in  divers  places  where  very  tall 
fine  Oaks  to  Apearance  has  been  blown  down  by 
hard  gales  of  Wind  Pticularly  in  the  Manner  of 
Pensburry,  that  in  a  Short  time  the  whole  Trunk  that 
laid  upon  the  Ground  would  Moulder  into  dirt  and 
So  lay  upon  the  Ground  in  a  ridge  the  whole  Length 
1750-1  of  the  tree  plainly  Shewing  where  it  laid,  tho'  noth- 
Feby  24th  mg  hut  a  Rj^ge  of  Mud  or  dirt  remains  So  that  it 
is  Evident  to  me  that  Vessels  built  in  this  Country, 
without  Some  method  of  Seasoning  the  Materiels 

[  68  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

very  well,  both  timber  &  Plank  must  decay  in  a  very 
Short  time 

I  will  only  Observe  that  Philad3  is  Remarkable 
for  having  the  largest  and  best  Market  in  America 
it  Abounds  with  Beefe,  Mutton,  veal,  Porke,  all 
kinds  of  Poultry  as  Turkeys  wild  &  tame,  Geese, 
ducks  Wild  &  tame,  Dunghill  fowls,  Pheasants, 
Quails,  wild  Pidgeons,  also  Venison  as  fallow  Deer 
in  abundance,  Rabbits,  &C  And  great  Plenty  of 
fruite  &  Roots  as  Potatoes,  Turneps,  Parsneps 
Carratts  Cabbage  &C  &C 

This  day  tooke  leave  of  my  friends  in  Philadel-       1750-1 
phia,  Dined  with  B  Bagnell  &  about  2  o'Clock  Set    Feby  25th 
out   for   Burlington   la:   Pemberton   Tho:   Crosby 
Sam :  Burge  went  with  me  to  Frankfort  5  Miles  And 
George   Mifflin  &  Ben:  Bagnall  went  with  me  to 
Burlington  we  Crossed  at  Dunk's  ferry,  To  Burling 
ton  is  15  Miles  fro:  Frankfort  and  all  good  Road, 
I  need  not  Say  anyting  further  of  Burlington  having 
mention'd  it  12th  Decr  last 

Lodged  last  night  at  the  Tavern,  this  day  at  Meet-  26 
ing  J  Thompson  from  Engd  there  as  also  Gove 
Belcher  And  Sundry  People  of  Distinction,  Dined 
wth  Charles  Read  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  and  in 
the  afternoon  Crossed  the  ferry  here  from  the  City 
of  Burlington  to  the  City  of  Bristol  in  Pensilvania 
Coverm*  As  Burlington  is  in  the  Jerseys —  Bristol 
has  the  name  of  a  City  but  in  England  would  make 
but  a  poor  village  however  it  is  Pleasantly  Scituate 
upon  the  Bank  of  the  River  Delaware  from  hence 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 


1750-1 
Feby  27th 


28th 


March  1st 

2d 
3d 
4 


1750-1 
March  6th 

7. 
8. 


1  went  this   Evening  to   Trenton    (12    Miles)    to 
Elisha  Bonds  All  night 

Set  out  this  morning  from  Trenton  in  W'Jersey 
to  Prince  Town  (12  Miles)  and  Breakfasted  with 
one  Same  Horner  from  Thence  to  Brunswick  18 
miles  Dined;  Crossd  the  ferry  here  and  got  to  Perth 
Amboy  this  Evening  &  Lodgd  at  the  Widdow 
Sarjeants,  12  miles 

Over  Amboy  ferry  this  morning  to  Staten  Island 
(see  Accot  Amboy  Octo  3Oth)  and  thence  Along  sd 
Island  to  the  Narrows  being  18  miles  Over  the  ferry 

2  Miles  And  dined  at  the  ferry  house  (where  I  see 
my  Old  Acquaintance  Ben  Bispham  Coming  from 
NYork  to  his  own  house  at  Mf  Holy  in  the  Jerseys) 
from  this  house  to  the  Village  of  Flat  Bush  is  5 
Miles,  from  thence  to  NYork  ferry  house  upon  long 
Island  is  5  miles  Blowing  hard  here  I  staid  all  night 

This  morning  I  went  over  at  the  ferry  to  NYork 
and  dined  wth  Wm  Coventry 

Lodged  wth  Wm  Coventry  &  Dined  wth  D° 
At  Meeting  dined  &  Suppd  wthM  Bowne 
Dined  wth  Isaac  Latouch 
DO  Suppd  wth  John  Axell  (W  C.  there) 
Dined  wth  Thos  Duncan  in  wall  Street 
Snow  Yesterday  &  this  day 

I  dined  wth  William  Coventry 
I  dined  with  John  Willett  Esqr 
I  set  out  over  the  ferry  Called  at  Ramseys  at  the 
ferry  house  for  my  horse  where  I  left  him  when  I 

[  70  ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  BIRKET 

returned  to  NYork  from  hence  to  Jamaica  12 
Miles  &  Called  at  Wests  an  Excellent  house  where 
I  baited  &  proceeded  to  David  Allgeo's  upon  Hamp- 
stead  plains  (8  miles)  drank  tea  at  Coll0  Martins  at 
David  Allgeo's  All  night 

Came  from  David  Allgeo's  to  Jamaica  '8  Baited         9th 
at  Wests  to  new  York  in  the  Evening  12  Miles  Left 
my  horse  at  the  ferry  house  Kept  by  Ramsey 

At  meeting  at  NYork  dined  wth  la  Burling  Supped          10 

with  DO 

Dined  wth  Saml  Burling  Suppd  wth  Wm  Coventry.          H- 
Dined  wth  W.  C  13^  Dined  wth  D°  Coventrys  12 

Dined  wth  Cap'  Ralph  Hilton  14 

Dined  wth  Wm  Coventry  15 

This  morning  took  leave  of  my  friends  in  N  York  16. 
(viz)  Wm  Coventry  Is:  Latouch  Jos.  Haynes  Nat. 
Marsten  Ra  Hilton  Tho :  Duncan,  la  Burling,  Sam 
Burling  John  Fell  &C  &Ca  Had  a  Bowl  of  Hot 
Arrack  and  went  Imediately  aboard  the  Snow 
Elizabeth  Giles  Heysham 

On  Board  the  Eliza  Giles  Heysham  Masr  for  An-       1750-1 
tigua  w^  John  Willett  Esqr  Cha*  Duncan  And  my    March  16th 
Self  Passengers  Also  Yorkshire  &  the  Two  Horses, 
Wind  N  W  And  a  fine  gale  We  turnd  off  our  fast 
from  the  Wharfe  at  10  o'Clock  A.M.  and  at  One 
o'Clock  we  Passed  by  Sandy  hook 

Fine  day  Wind  N  W  Course  S  E  -17 

DO  &  fresh  gale  @  DO—       DO  18. 

DO  &  DO @   DO DO  19. 

Hard  gale  @  S:W D«  20 


SOME  CURSORY  REMARKS 

21  Exceeding  fine  Weather  wind  N  W DO 

22  DO—  wind  @  S  W DO 

23  DO  Wind  N  W-Lat  31°  46' D« 

•24  Fresh  Gale  W<*  W'eriy  wth  Thunde  &C  Latd  29° 

56'  Antigua  this  day  bears  So  B  W  783' 
1751.,  25          Fresh  Gale  @  S  W  &  N  W  Lat  27°,,26' 

26  Wind  Westerly  and  Near  Noon  begun  to   dye 

away  Lat  26°,,26'.  Near  Calm  the  Afternoon  and 
the  follows  night 

27.  At  8  this  Morng  the  Breese  came  About  to  the 

N  E.  See  a  Sloop  to  the  Eastwd  the  latter  part  of 
this  day  had  a  fine  Trade  at  N  E  Lat:  POb: 

25°»55'- 

28  A  fine  Trade  E  N  E.  POb:  23°,,4i/ 

29.  DO DO— Fob   22°  I' 

30  Do- 20°,,9' 

.31  DO— and  Pleasant  gale  Fob:  i8°,,io' 

1751 

Apli  Smart  gail  at  E  B  S  and  ES  E  Lat:  16°  30'  at 

noon  begun  to  Steer  W.  B.  S.  &  See  Seve  men  War 
birds  And  See  a  vessel  in  the  Morng  from  the  Mast 
head 

2d  Fine  Weather  Steerd  Wy2N.  Lat  POb  i6°,,42' 

in  the  Evens  Caught  a  booby  on  the  try  Sail  gaff 

3d  Between  3  and  5  this  morns  laid  to,  very  Squally 
at  %  past  10  o'Clock  made  the  Island  Antigua  Dist: 
about  6  Leagues  at  one  was  off  willoughby  bay  and 
at  6  got  up  wth  Sandy  Island  Tacked  and  came  too 
under  Hawksbill  all  night  where  we  laid  very 
Safely 

[   72   ] 


MADE  BY  JAMES  :BIRKET-  i 

Got  under  Sail  at  6  o'Clock  this  morng  and  turned 
into  S*  John's  Harbour  got  Ashore  at  10  AM,  In 
good  health  and  Thanks  be  to  God  found  all  my 
friends  well  After  a  voyage  of  8mos  &  9  days  from 
this  Island 

I  travelled  in  this  Journey  upon  the  Continent  of 
N.  America  about  1120  miles — 

Boston  N.  B.  in  page  [22]  See  an  Acco*  of  the 

Long  Wharf  there,  to  which  I  add  that 

our  fr'd  Jabez  Maud  Fisher  of  Philadel- 

phia  when  here  viz*  24th  of  Octor  1775 

told  me  that  he  had  Measured  the  Long 

Wharfe  at  Boston  &  found  it  700  yards 

long  which  is  less  than  Reported  by  180 

yards 

Philadelphia  See  page  [64]  There  was  2  Friends 

Meeting  Houses  &  another  Building  on 

Society  hill   Said  Fisher  above  told  me 

there  is  now  Four  Meeting  houses  belong- 

ing  to  Friends  wch  Consist  of  800  Fami- 

lies  &  which  are  Reckoned  at  2700  Indi- 

viduals 

Ditto  .  .  Also  that  the  Tide  of  flood  rises  only  6 

feet  at  that  City  being   128  miles  from 

Cape  Henlopen  near  Lewes  Town  Also 

Ditto .  .  as   the    Streets    are    Intersected   at   right 

Angles  makes  Intermediate  Squares  -  450 

feet  or  150  yards  Fronting  each  way 

[  73  ] 


SOME  ^CURSORY  REMARKS 

I  had  Recommendations  to  the  following  Gentle 
men  at  Boston  by  sundry  persons 

Andrew  Mackenzie — By  Sam :  Horner — 

Benja  Faneuil.  ...  By  D° 

Cap'  WmMorris  ...  .By  DO 

Foster  Hutchinson  Did  Business  wth  him 

A  Letter  from  Cap*  Edwd  Cahill  for  John 
Erving.  . 

DO DO.  ...  for  Thos  Hubard 

DO DO.  .  .  .James  Forbes.  . 

D°  one  for  Henry  Oassals  Esqr  my  true  fr'd — 

D°  one  for  John  Fenton 

D°  one  for  Thomas  Goodthwaite  . 


[  74  ] 


14  DAY  USE 

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